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
The show’s postcard-ready shots of the northern countryside, with its verdant hills and winding roads, are another incongruity, belying the challenges of survival there for those on the fringes.
—
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
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
-
The haters will come out in force after your Super Bowl performance — misrepresenting your intentions, twisting your words and actions to suit their agenda.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Prosecutors accused Zhu and a co-conspirator of misrepresenting to buyers that UMI and PBI could make up to 100,000 COVID-19 test kits per week in the United States.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the company is refuting the claims.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
On Tuesday, Cordero-Stutz’s office issued a statement refuting a recent school system memo that had said there was a deal for the Sheriff’s Office to help process outstanding bus-camera violations that had been issued before last year’s suspension but are currently stalled in court.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An exhibition in Beijing delving into anonymity, a key code of the house stemming back to the founder Martin Margiela’s Greta Garbo-like ways — and the face-obscuring masks that have been a feature of the brand since the Belgian maverick arrived on the international fashion scene.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The shooters were in the parked Chevrolet Equinox for three minutes and 19 seconds before getting out, carrying rifles and with fabric obscuring their faces.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Deeann Bennett, 27, and Charles Bennett, 32, both of Booneville, were charged with reckless homicide and concealing the birth of an infant.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Plaintiffs also accuse the companies of failing to warn users about the risks of using their products and of deliberately concealing their dangers.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Enacting government reforms like congressional term limits, banning stock trading and overturning citizens united would make congress members more accountable to the people and less likely to play partisan games to appease special interest groups.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Barcelona first entered the top eight on the hour-mark after overturning a one-goal deficit against Copenhagen, while Manchester City took a two-goal lead within half an hour at home to Galatasaray.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both teens are hiding secrets; Johnny, a potentially devastating injury and Shannon, a troubled and violent homelife.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The discovery of unusually warm molecular hydrogen in these LLAGN is a testament to the unexpected complexity hiding in plain sight.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The publication has doubled its presence the last year in the US, covering national politics, media, sports, and other beats.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Bieber’s revealing cowl-neck design featured an open back, a side boob-baring bodice, and intricate beads covering her halterneck dress’s hips, chest, and a sheer peekaboo mesh panel inside.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Carnival plays out in the movie’s background, adding life and music as well as disguising crimes perpetrated by those in power.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
People describing themselves as constitutional observers tell WCCO that in the past week, reports of ICE agents disguising themselves have flooded in from the Twin Cities Metro and rural areas of the state.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belying. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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