1
as in delusion
a false idea or belief
the once-common fallacy that girls just weren't any good at math
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deception
the quality or state of being false
the fallacy of the notion of spontaneous generation was demonstrated by the Dutch naturalist Leeuwenhoek
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fallacy
This mindset, however, can also foster a sunk cost fallacy.
—
Kumar Rakesh Ranjan, The Conversation, 27 Apr. 2026
The fallacy of first is demonstrated by the Netscape, Napster, Sony’s Betamax, GM’s EV1 electric vehicle, Kodak’s first digital camera in 1975, and UPS’ launch of an overnight delivery service in 1929 as potent reminders that being first is not the winning formula; being the best is.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
This was the fallacy that led to the rise of elegant, beautiful, and compelling scenarios — grand unification, supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and string theory — whose predictions simply don’t appear to match experimental reality in any measurable way.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
Rose pointed out that our decision-making, especially System 1 decision-making, is affected by cognitive biases and logical fallacies.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fallacy
Kumar Rakesh Ranjan, The Conversation, 27 Apr. 2026
The fallacy of first is demonstrated by the Netscape, Napster, Sony’s Betamax, GM’s EV1 electric vehicle, Kodak’s first digital camera in 1975, and UPS’ launch of an overnight delivery service in 1929 as potent reminders that being first is not the winning formula; being the best is.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
This was the fallacy that led to the rise of elegant, beautiful, and compelling scenarios — grand unification, supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and string theory — whose predictions simply don’t appear to match experimental reality in any measurable way.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
Rose pointed out that our decision-making, especially System 1 decision-making, is affected by cognitive biases and logical fallacies.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fallacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallacy
Noun
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Liaquat Ahamed has spent his career studying the moments when the world’s financial system breaks down — the bad bets, the collective delusions, and the geopolitical accidents that tip economies into catastrophe.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
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Among these delusions is the perennial faith that Iranians are potentially ardent converts to American-style freedom, rather than inheritors of an ancient civilization with a trajectory outlined by its own specific history.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
But in a further deception orchestrated by the Devil, the king’s mother is ordered to kill the queen and her child.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Red-team against deliberate deception, not just natural variability.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Another myth concerns interest rates.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
The result is a quieter map of Europe — one shaped by myth, food, architecture and history that most tourists never reach.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.—
Sue Brightman,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Santos, whose political rise and fall was characterized by a notorious trail of lies and falsehoods, claimed my story was riddled with errors.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
4 June 2026
-
The other Philadelphia runs scored on a throwing error by San Diego reliever Yuki Matsui on a pickoff attempt and a fielder's choice by Brandon Marsh.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The Office Romance actress stole the show at the Netflix film’s New York City premiere on June 2, dazzling in a naked illusion corset gown that covered her curves in dreamy blooms.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
-
Michael created the illusion of magic.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
Noun
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In the ensuing months, as Roberts' falsehoods emerged, the Des Moines School Board has sued JG Consulting the search firm that helped the school district find and vet Roberts, accusing it of negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract.—
Kyle Werner,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
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Rumours break like waves in some nameless river, dappling our sleeves with falsehood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fallacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallacy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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