Ananias

noun

An·​a·​ni·​as ˌa-nə-ˈnī-əs How to pronounce Ananias (audio)
1
: an early Christian struck dead for lying
2
: liar

Examples of Ananias in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Diego Ananias Arellano Díaz, also known as Fabio Cristian Hernández, was arrested in Newport Beach on July 29 in connection with the July 20 bombing of an ATM at a San Ramon Target store. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek, probably from Hebrew Ḥānanyāh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ananias was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Ananias.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ananias. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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