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
Saura had a large sense of the humor, which struck those who got to know him, belying the sternness of his public visage with his playful banter and frequent chuckle.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
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
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belying
Verb
-
California’s consumer protection and false advertising laws also forbid misrepresenting goods or services.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Hood County Commissioner Nannette Samuelson has accused the Granbury city manager and other city officials of deception and misrepresenting facts concerning power a plant designed for a future data center on over 2,000 acres annexed by the city in January.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s not refuting the secrecy.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Amidst the other claims, this one has hit hard at Beast Industries, and the company got quite personal in refuting it.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hadid kept her accessories monochromatic and simple, partially obscuring her face with a pair of oversized dark brown sunglasses and adding a brown leather skinny belt around her hips.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 Apr. 2026
-
To make your windows sparkle, make sure there are no smudges obscuring the spring sunlight.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
William Scott Cantwell, 19, of Warwick, Rhode Island faces four charges, which include conspiracy, disorderly conduct, shoplifting by concealing merchandise and interfering with a police officer.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Misprision of felony involves someone knowing a felony was committed, and concealing it and failing to report it to authorities as soon as possible.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The club’s hitters are 7-for-20 and catchers are 7-for-15 in overturning calls.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors looking to strip Eastman of his law license had depicted him as fabricating a baseless theory and making false claims of fraud in hopes of overturning the results of the election.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
They were later located hiding in a nearby neighborhood and taken into custody.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For moms who sometimes resort to hiding in the closet to finish their chapters.—
Lit Hub Approved,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their station Y’Allternative will also be covering the festival on Sunday.—
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Before the Hill, Cusack was a reporter and editor for Inside Washington Publishers, covering the Labor Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.—
Bob Cusack,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On his last day before he’s scheduled to ride off on his motorcycle for a three-month sabbatical that’s only barely disguising his suicidal ideation, Robby spends his final shift lashing out at his co-workers.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Many of Joseph’s current defensive principles — disguising blitzers indistinguishably from players dropping back into coverage — are similar to what Cincinnati did a decade ago, under defensive coordinator Guenther.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belying. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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