1
as in misrepresenting
to give a misleading impression of
his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refuting
to prove to be false
the latest information belies the old theory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscuring
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belying
Then Danielle and Michèle dance, with a casual tenderness belying how charged the moment is for Michèle.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
Inside, its luxurious custom leather seats and carbon fiber trim transform the Shelby into a quality cabin belying its F-150 roots.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
On an unremarkable clay tennis court in the Spanish city of Alicante, watched on by only a handful of spectators, two teenagers swipe the ball to one another with surprising vigor, belying their scrawny, adolescent frames.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Henry communicates the weight of Ray’s past with a flicker in his gaze and a shadow that falls over his face, belying the easy confidence established by the character’s introduction.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025
Adem Zorgane has long been a statistical anomaly in Belgian football, his incredible passing numbers belying his position at the heart of a distinctly mid-table side.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
Inside, its luxurious custom leather seats and carbon fiber trim transform the Shelby into a quality cabin belying its F-150 roots.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
On an unremarkable clay tennis court in the Spanish city of Alicante, watched on by only a handful of spectators, two teenagers swipe the ball to one another with surprising vigor, belying their scrawny, adolescent frames.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Henry communicates the weight of Ray’s past with a flicker in his gaze and a shadow that falls over his face, belying the easy confidence established by the character’s introduction.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025
Adem Zorgane has long been a statistical anomaly in Belgian football, his incredible passing numbers belying his position at the heart of a distinctly mid-table side.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belying
Verb
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In response, some on the right charged that the Times and its allies in academia were negatively misrepresenting American history.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
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In November 2023, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin began investigating First Choice Women’s Resource Center to see whether the nonprofit had violated state consumer fraud laws by misrepresenting its services to clients, donors and the public.—
Carly Thomsen,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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An ancient giant kangaroo that lived in Australia 50,000 years ago likely hopped after all, refuting past research on the species, according to a new study.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
22 Jan. 2026
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In early 2023, Lachlan pleaded with Liz to issue a statement refuting a Financial Times article that said James would force him out upon Rupert’s death.—
Gabriel Sherman,
Vanity Fair,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With the program and song texts only available to download on the cellphone, the audience was left in the dark without texts and, with amplification obscuring diction, not knowing what’s what.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
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For about 2 minutes and 20 seconds, observers in a remote part of Antarctica will witness this rare phenomenon, with the moon obscuring 96% of the sun.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Low was fined $106,000 for concealing payments between his tech nonprofit and actor Alec Baldwin.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
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You're required to disclose all assets, income sources and recent financial transactions during the bankruptcy process, and attempting to transfer property to friends or family before filing, concealing income or lying on your bankruptcy petition can have big repercussions.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Francesca Nadin of Prisoners for Palestine said the hunger strikers’ case – and growing support for overturning the ban on Palestine Action – reflect intensifying public concern over the right to free speech.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
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Wembley, Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium; at various points over the past few years, Newcastle have taken a wrecking ball to long decades of self-abasement, but overturning a substantive lead at the Etihad Stadium will require another level of achievement.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead of hiding from mental illness, Kleckner’s artwork leaned into it.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Most think my cancer is just hiding.—
Howard Wolinsky,
STAT,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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First District Legislator Manny Abarca is sponsoring a piece of legislation calling for law enforcement officers in Jackson County — including federal immigration officers — to be prohibited from covering their faces or badges while on the job.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Throw in the fact that his 4-2-5 scheme, which is masterful at disguising pressure and stopping the run, would make for a natural and necessary fit at USC, where those two things weren’t up to snuff last season.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
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Adelman tried to navigate his lack of a center by matching minutes, but Hornets coach Charles Lee countered by disguising his substitutions.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belying. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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