Defraudar?

Question

Is this exactly the same as decepcionar? I heard it today used, and never before.

No quiero defraudarte. No quiero decepcionarte.

Same thing? No usual difference? And understood in Mexico, South America? My guess is decepcionar is better to use, and more understood but maybe defraudar is used a lot.... I don't know. Gracias.

Gracias.

Answer 1

Both "decepcionar" and "defraudar" mean to deceive in one way or another, since the former is etymologically related to "deceive" and the former with "fraud", but the former comes from "take + from/away", while the latter also includes the ideas of injury, malice and guile. As a synonym of "to disappoint", "defraudar" is more formal, but it also has the meaning of evade your own taxes, which "decepcionar" doesn't have. Both are used in all countries.

the former and the former or the former and the latter? je je :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 24, 2011

Answer 2

Yep they seem the same according to word ref Defraudar

also, this from RAE

defraudar. (Del lat. defraud?re). 1. tr. Privar a alguien, con abuso de su confianza o con infidelidad a las obligaciones propias, de lo que le toca de derecho. 2. tr. Frustrar, desvanecer la confianza o la esperanza que se ponía en alguien o en algo. 3. tr. Eludir o burlar el pago de los impuestos o contribuciones. 4. tr. Turbar, quitar, entorpecer. Defraudar la claridad del día, el sueño.