lying 1 of 4

lying

2 of 4

noun

lying

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of lie

lying

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of lie
1
as in leading
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the train tracks lie just over that hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in hiding
to remain out of sight paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lying
Adjective
He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Verb
Pino’s camera records Richard lying facedown, handcuffed, while Blum steps over his legs. Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 Advertisement Upon entry to the hotel room, police found a 24-year-old woman lying dead with evidence of recent injuries. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025 Pino’s camera records Richard lying facedown, handcuffed, while Blum steps over his legs. Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 Advertisement Upon entry to the hotel room, police found a 24-year-old woman lying dead with evidence of recent injuries. Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025 Others say police, when faced with lying criminals out to do harm, must sometimes lie and pressure them in the interests of public safety. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024 Some policing experts say that, properly used, the method can elicit truth from criminals who are lying. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024 Others say police, when faced with lying criminals out to do harm, must sometimes lie and pressure them in the interests of public safety. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024 And many training companies operating in California now advise against long interrogations and a reliance on lying and manipulation — though lying still remains a tactic police are allowed to use. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lying
Adjective
  • Out of all the ugly and dishonest things that Donald Trump said about Volodymyr Zelensky last week, the ugliest was not dishonest at all.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2025
  • But the contestant also feels that some of those accusing her of dishonest gameplay need only look in the mirror.
    EW.com, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Tacopina recently appeared on The Breakfast Club to break down key elements of the defense’s strategy in proving Rocky’s innocence, and the plaintiff’s, A$AP Relli, lies and deception.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Today the art world is reeling over not just her deception, but also the stain Ms. Schiff has left on the largely unregulated business of art advising.
    Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Trump administration’s focus on the false narrative that Politico received USAID funds follows an erroneous claim by Kyle Becker, a conservative political commentator, on Wednesday.
    Liam Reilly, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
  • If the cost looks erroneous, please email content@bayareanewsgroup.com for more information.
    Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Her unsettling command of the character — who was equal parts sweet, vulnerable, mendacious, and menacing — was one of the highlights of the series.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Two stand out: his profile and endorsement, in 2000, of Ralph Nader’s independent presidential campaign, and his early opposition to George W. Bush’s disastrous and mendacious invasion of Iraq.
    Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • Despite these broad areas of agreement, many Americans are still on high alert for potential dishonesty.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
  • This type of insurance safeguards your business against losses resulting from employee dishonesty, theft or embezzlement.
    Murali Thalluri, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement on June 1 was terribly misguided, and his justification for doing so was misleading and untruthful.
    Robert N. Stavins, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2017
  • What is more untruthful: A thing written down, or a sustained deception of the heart?
    Nicolette Polek, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024
Noun
  • But conservatism ought not to be equated with populist buffoonery and mendacity.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Oct. 2024
  • And mendacity and brutality and remorseless destruction of people’s lives.
    Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Post misconstrues video of Trump at Gabbard's swearing-in ceremony The Threads post appeared to draw a false conclusion from Salcedo's remarks about not seeing Gabbard being sworn in during the Feb. 12 edition of his program.
    Andre Byik, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
  • In 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and making false statements to federal law enforcement, the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York confirmed to CNN at the time.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lying. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lying

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!