bend the truth

phrase

: to say something that is not true or that misleads people but that is usually not regarded as a serious or harmful lie
When he tells people he's from Manhattan he's bending the truth a little since he really grew up in Brooklyn.

Examples of bend the truth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some people bend the truth to protect others, embellish stories and then experience intense remorse. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Feb. 2026 Each episode of Hustlers, Gamblers, and Crooks finds a protagonist willing to take big risks and bend the truth to secure the bag. PC Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 Others may be tempted to bend the truth, but don't fall for it. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 21 June 2021 Consequently, upon being threatened by the ability of this journalist to bend the truth in order to serve himself with a better story, our group hired an attorney. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2013

Cite this Entry

“Bend the truth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bend%20the%20truth. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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