lie 1 of 3

lie

2 of 3

verb (2)

1
as in to lead
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 to hide
to remain out of sight paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lie

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lie differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lie are equivocate, fib, palter, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

When could equivocate be used to replace lie?

The words equivocate and lie are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

Where would fib be a reasonable alternative to lie?

While in some cases nearly identical to lie, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

When is it sensible to use palter instead of lie?

While the synonyms palter and lie are close in meaning, palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

How do prevaricate and lie relate to one another?

Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

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 lie
Verb
As Stan explains, if Thomas is still alive, the key to controlling Cipher — and all Supes for that matter — could lie inside his head, which Stan sees as a major win in the battle against Homelander. Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 Oct. 2025 Bondi fired back, accusing Blumenthal of lying about his military record. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
Stop reading fake news and believing the lies. Ofir Akunis, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 The problem is that the show has far too many other threads to tie together and never quite knows how to dole out its many secrets, visions, and lies. Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lie
Noun
  • Instead, spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will forever tell tales of his audacious 60 off just 65 balls.
    Sam Dalling, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Wyler’s Oscar-winning film The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – a timely tale of the weight of coming home from World War II – was named as subversive by HUAC.
    Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The series’ first season, chronicling the crimes of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prompted a conversation about the exploitation of Black and disabled people’s stories for entertainment, while the season following the Menendez Brothers led to a real-world reconsidering of their guilt.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Her vicious falsehoods are especially harmful now, at the moment when all Americans need to find common ground and affirm that political violence is never, ever acceptable.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
  • This pledge erases dissenting Israeli voices, legitimizes falsehoods, and shields Hamas from blame.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Brothers Grimm, who are known for dark fairy tales that were sometimes even violent.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The wedding was fit for a fairy tale.
    Robin Raven, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lie. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lie

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