1
a(1)
: the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality
actions guided by truth
also
: the real facts about something
need to face the truth
Tell me the truth.
You think I don't care, but nothing could be further from the truth. [=that is absolutely not true]
I said I liked it, but truth be told/known [=really, honestly], it was awful.
(2)
: the state of being the case : fact
the truth of the matter
(3)
often Truth
: a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality
A movie can depart from the strict truth and capture a broader, deeper truth …—
Adrian J. Rivera
Adrian J. Rivera
b(1)
: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true
truths of thermodynamics
a basic/fundamental/eternal/universal truth of human nature
(2)
: truism
c
: the body of true statements and propositions
commitment to scientific truth
2
a
: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality
There's no truth in anything he says.
Her story contains a grain/kernel of truth.
I doubt the truth of their accusations.
b
chiefly British
: true sense 2
Her propeller shaft was a trifle out of truth …—C. S. Forester
C. S. Forester
c
: fidelity to an original or to a standard
The actor struggled to find the truth of the character.
3
a
: sincerity in action, character, and utterance
… the absolute truth of his speech and the rectitude of his behavior.—Ralph Waldo Emerson
see also live one's truth
Ralph Waldo Emerson4
see also:
Examples of truth in a Sentence
At some point you have to face the simple truth that we failed.
Their explanation was simpler but came closer to the truth.
The article explains the truth about global warming.
A reporter soon discovered the truth.
Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Her story contains a grain of truth but also lots of exaggeration.
Recent Examples on the Web
In truth, the slow starts, the disjointed offense and the disconnected defense haven’t been Knicks miscues unique to road games this season.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Pride should come from your willingness to improve, not from resisting uncomfortable truths.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for truth
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Pride should come from your willingness to improve, not from resisting uncomfortable truths.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for truth
Cite this Entry
“Truth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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