belie

verb

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be·lie | \ bi-ˈlī

, bē- \

belied; belying

Definition of belie

transitive verb

1a : to give a false impression of Her gentleness belies her strength.

b : to present an appearance not in agreement with His manner and appearance belie his age.

2a : to show (something) to be false or wrong The evidence belies their claims of innocence.

b : to run counter to : contradict … appeared to belie all the rosy things I had heard about it.— Katherine T. Kinkead

3 : disguise sense 3 An air of rural charm … belies the community's industrial activity. — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania

Other Words from belie Synonyms & Antonyms Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About belie

Synonyms & Antonyms for belie

Synonyms

misrepresent

Antonyms

Did you know?

"What is a lie?" asked Lord Byron in Don Juan. He then answered himself: "'Tis but the truth in masquerade...." The history of belie illustrates a certain connection between lying and disguising. In Old English, belie meant "to deceive by lying," and, in time, was used to mean "to tell lies about," taking on a sense similar to that of the modern word slander. Eventually, its meaning softened, shifting from an act of outright lying to one of mere misrepresentation, and by the early 1700s, the word was being used in the sense "to disguise or conceal." Nowadays, belie suggests giving an impression at variance with the facts rather than telling an intentional untruth.

Examples of belie in a Sentence

a tree whose delicate beauty belies its real toughness Their actions belie their claim to be innocent.

Recent Examples on the Web Ahead of Thursday’s GDP data release, Biden administration officials argued the second-quarter figures would belie the economy’s overall strength as reflected in the labor market, household balance sheets and other areas. — Amara Omeokwe, WSJ, 28 July 2022 Although Anne is said to be tormented over the loss of her onetime lover, little beyond her words to the audience suggests her smirks belie inner turmoil. — Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 16 July 2022 Classic European features of this home belie its modern construction — it was only built in 1995. — Ko Lyn Cheang, The Indianapolis Star, 24 May 2022 His warmth and West Coast informality belie an intensity and urgency to get things done. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 June 2022 Banks have faced a global pandemic, a sharp but short-lived recession and an economy that is full of unusual wrinkles, but the profit swings belie that their revenue has remained flat and their performance has been steady. — David Benoit, WSJ, 3 June 2022 Torched trees and ashen cactus stumps belie an understory of resurgent shrubs and wildflowers. — Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2022 Light as a feather and rendered in the colors of a street artist’s chalk box, their big flavors like lavender, Earl Grey and Dreamsicle belie their one-bite size. — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 17 June 2022 Oladokun’s kindness and hearty laugh belie an inner steeliness. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, 2 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'belie.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.