UNTRUTHFUL Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'untruthful' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of untruthful are deceitful , dishonest , and mendacious . While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality. // an untruthful account of their actions

Q: When is 'deceitful' a more appropriate choice than 'untruthful'?

The words deceitful and untruthful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing. // the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

Q: When would 'dishonest' be a good substitute for 'untruthful'?

While the synonyms dishonest and untruthful are close in meaning, dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud. // a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

Q: When might 'mendacious' be a better fit than 'untruthful'?

While in some cases nearly identical to untruthful , mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths. // mendacious tales of adventure

untruthful

adjective

ˌən-ˈtrüth-fəl

Definition of untruthful next

as in erroneous

not being in agreement with what is true an unintentionally untruthful statement that the candidate later corrected

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in misleading

telling or containing lies the political action committee was slammed for spreading untruthful smears about the candidate and his wife

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective untruthful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of untruthful are deceitful, dishonest, and mendacious. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

When is deceitful a more appropriate choice than untruthful?

The words deceitful and untruthful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When would dishonest be a good substitute for untruthful?

While the synonyms dishonest and untruthful are close in meaning, dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

When might mendacious be a better fit than untruthful?

While in some cases nearly identical to untruthful, mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

Examples 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 untruthful Holley, in the wake of the lawsuit, called the allegations untruthful. —

Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024 His team had sought to get him a new trial, arguing that one of the jurors, a woman named Richelle Nice, hid details and had been untruthful about her personal life. —

Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2024 Administrators fear people will look for exceptions to their subjective answers and characterize their schools as being untruthful, Tighe said. —

Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 The Assembly of Cuban Resistance, which works closely with Cuban exile communities, has denounced the film as untruthful. —

Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for untruthful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for untruthful

Adjective

Between the lines: Republicans have argued vigorously that the apostrophe placed in the transcript is erroneous and that Biden was actually criticizing individual Trump voters.

Andrew Solender, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
The billionaire responded to reports that he would not be invited to the U.K.’s investment summit with false claims about the release of prisoners in the country, following a trend of erroneous and inflammatory comments directed at the U.K. in recent months.

Chloe Berger, Fortune Europe, 26 Sep. 2024