Synonyms of belie

belie

verb

bi-ˈlī 

1

as in to misrepresent

to give a misleading impression of

his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misrepresent
• conceal
• obscure
• hide
• contradict
• distort
• mask
• mislead
• deceive
• disguise
• falsify
• pretend
• feign
• camouflage
• cloak
• counterfeit
• misreport
• dissemble
• color
• garble
• misrender
• twist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• represent
• betray
• reveal
• demonstrate
• disclose
• discover
• exhibit
• expose
• evince
• bare
• parade
• flaunt
• show off

2

as in to refute

to prove to be false

the latest information belies the old theory

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refute
• disprove
• overturn
• discredit
• rebut
• falsify
• challenge
• confound
• confute
• discuss
• debunk
• disconfirm
• question
• doubt
• shoot down
• give the lie to
• overthrow
• contest
• debate
• talk over
• query
• mistrust
• moot
• hash (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prove
• establish
• confirm
• show
• verify
• validate
• support
• record
• witness
• document
• substantiate
• identify
• evince
• demonstrate
• illustrate
• evidence
• corroborate
• certify
• manifest
• back (up)
• display
• attest
• buttress
• adduce
• authenticate

3

as in to conceal

to keep secret or shut off from view

the security council issued false assurances that belied the true gravity of the situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conceal
• obscure
• hide
• cover
• suppress
• disguise
• overshadow
• mask
• veil
• cloak
• enshroud
• paper over
• curtain
• blot out
• bury
• occult
• blanket
• shroud
• screen
• block
• camouflage
• obstruct
• smother
• cover (up)
• occlude
• becloud
• darken
• gild
• whitewash
• gloss (over)
• shade
• varnish
• overcast
• eclipse
• cloud
• bedim
• befog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reveal
• show
• disclose
• expose
• display
• uncover
• divulge
• bare
• unveil
• present
• unmask
• clarify
• bring out
• illuminate
• proclaim
• uncloak
• advertise
• publish
• spread
• publicize
• get out
• broadcast
• air

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of belie

There’s a level of seriousness that belies the 90-minute comedy film he’s made, which features an imbecilic white rapper who speaks in Caribbean-British slang and a contraption that shoots bullets out of one’s rear end. — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Their alluring quality belies their extreme toxicity; at times used as a hallucinogen, their ingestion can cause severe mental confusion and even death. — Tatiane De Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

The modest structure provides additional park storage, but the landscaping belies its less-than-temporary nature. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Heavily promoted as the most anticipated celestial event of the second half of the 20th century, the comet proved to be an underwhelming sight that belied promises of a spectacle never to be seen again. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026

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