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

The painting’s joyful casualness belies its subject matter, clues to which can be found in the coyote on one of the men’s shirts and in the work’s title, Uncle’s Crossing (2022). — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

The lush grass blanketing this scenic Texas field belies the grisly horrors discovered underneath and the agonizing mystery that has tormented families for decades – until now. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Its basic design belies its versatility and importance, from flipping items in a pan to scraping a bowl to preserve ingredients. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

The consistency of Rojas’ production belies how aggressively he’s been promoted throughout his career. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

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