fib

1 of 3

noun

ˈfib 

: a trivial or childish lie

fib

2 of 3

verb (1)

fibbed; fibbing

intransitive verb

: to tell a fib

fibber noun

fib

3 of 3

verb (2)

fibbed; fibbing

British

: pummel, beat

Synonyms

Noun

• lie
• tale
• story

Verb (1)

• lie

Verb (2)

• lick
• hide
• lash
• pound
• beat
• whip
• attack
• knock
• slap
• do
• hit
• thump
• pelt
• spank
• slam
• punch
• batter
• assault
• bat

Choose the Right Synonym for fib

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth.

lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

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

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

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

palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

Examples of fib in a Sentence

Noun

I have to admit that I told a fib when I said I enjoyed the movie.

Is she telling fibs again?

Verb (1)

fibbed and said that he had remembered to water her plants while she was away

Verb (2)

the two drunken pub crawlers proceeded to fib each other senseless

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But even after getting caught in the fib, the woman doesn’t waver. —Ashley Vega, People.com, 10 June 2025

But Ulman has strung together a net of interesting observations: glances, insults, mistaken presumptions and gaslighting fibs. —Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 15 May 2025

Verb

In today’s challenging market, finding a job can be a long, frustrating process, and some job seekers have resorted to fibbing in order to present themselves as better candidates for a role. —Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025

The This Is Us actress stopped by the Not Gonna Lie podcast and told host Kylie Kelce that her singer hubby recently fibbed about watching the film to a friend. —Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 20 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps by shortening & alteration from fable

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1675, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fib

• A-fib

Kids Definition

fib

noun

ˈfib

: an unimportant lie

fib verb

fibber noun

Medical Definition

fib

abbreviation

fibrillation