In English vocabulary, choose the word that best expresses the meaning of the given word HOODWINK.

Introduction / Context:
Synonym questions test a learner understanding of word meanings and their closest equivalents in English. The given word here is HOODWINK, which is slightly old fashioned but still common in formal and literary contexts. Examinations often include such words because they measure both vocabulary range and the ability to distinguish fine differences in meaning. Our goal is to select the option that conveys nearly the same idea as hoodwink in most contexts.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: HOODWINK.
• Options: DECEIVE, NEGATE, UPSET, COVER.
• We must choose the word whose core meaning matches that of hoodwink.
• Standard British or international English dictionary meanings are assumed.

Concept / Approach:
The verb hoodwink comes from an older expression meaning to blindfold someone by covering the eyes with a hood. Over time, its figurative meaning became to trick, cheat, or deceive someone so that they do not see the truth. Therefore, the modern sense of hoodwink is to mislead someone deliberately. Among the options, we need to check which word carries this basic idea of tricking or misleading. The word deceive obviously means to make someone believe something that is not true, usually for personal advantage, which is almost identical in meaning to hoodwink.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall or infer the meaning of hoodwink as to cheat or deceive someone by making them believe something false. Step 2: Look at option DECEIVE and remember that it means to mislead or trick someone by lying or hiding the truth. Step 3: Note that this meaning strongly overlaps with hoodwink, since both involve intentional misleading. Step 4: Examine option NEGATE, which means to cancel, deny, or make something ineffective, not to trick someone. Step 5: Examine option UPSET, which means to disturb emotionally or physically, again unrelated to intentional deception. Step 6: Examine option COVER, which primarily refers to putting something over something else or to conceal, but not specifically to deceive a person in the sense used by hoodwink.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify our choice with example sentences. If we say The salesman tried to hoodwink the customers with false promises, we can replace hoodwink with deceive without changing the meaning: The salesman tried to deceive the customers with false promises. In contrast, The salesman tried to negate the customers or to upset the customers or to cover the customers would not carry the same idea. Additionally, dictionary entries confirm that hoodwink is a near synonym of deceive, trick, or dupe. This cross checking makes it clear that DECEIVE is the correct synonym in the list.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
NEGATE: This means to deny or make something invalid, as in negate an argument. It does not primarily refer to tricking people.
UPSET: This means to cause emotional disturbance or physical overturning, such as upset a person or upset a table, which is different from deliberate deception.
COVER: While cover can sometimes be used metaphorically for hiding the truth, its main meaning is simply to place something over something else or to protect. It is not the closest synonym for hoodwink in everyday use.
DECEIVE: This word directly expresses the act of misleading someone by giving a false impression, which is exactly what hoodwink implies.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse concealment of facts with the act of deceiving a person and therefore be tempted by cover, but concealment alone does not always involve active deception. Another common error is selecting a word that feels negative in general, such as upset, even when it does not match the exact meaning. To avoid these pitfalls, learners should focus on the core definition of the target word and test which option can replace it naturally in a sample sentence without changing the intended sense.

Final Answer:
The word that best expresses the meaning of HOODWINK is DECEIVE.