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

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 untruthful Our choice is the person who says the most outrageous, offensive and untruthful things, or the person who is subjected to those insults and lies. —

Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024 This comes after Adrian Houser was moved to the bullpen after a poor start to the season, after Edwin Diaz was briefly taken out of the closer role and after and Jorge Lopez was designated for assignment for being untruthful and unremorseful in controversial postgame remarks last week. —

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 June 2024 So Trump's team really leaned into that to argue that Cohen had lied, had been untruthful on the stand. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024 Holley, in the wake of the lawsuit, called the allegations untruthful. —

Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for untruthful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for untruthful

Adjective

The lack of clear details in recent warnings, along with several erroneous alerts, have led some residents to take the messages less seriously.

— Holly Yan, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
There is also a question whether the IRS has authority to assert penalties on refund claims of employment taxes as the statute that normally allows the IRS to assert penalties on erroneous claims for refund only applies to income taxes.

— Tom Cullinan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025