FALLACY Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

fallacy

noun

ˈfa-lə-sē

Definition of fallacy

as in delusion

a false idea or belief the once-common fallacy that girls just weren't any good at math

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truth
verity

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fallacy The sunk cost fallacy is the silent killer of rational decision-making. — Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 Like being able to recognize logical fallacies and how to have media literacy. — Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register, 7 May 2026 For example, the false dilemma logical fallacy has become a very popular way to persuade people to incorrectly believe there are only two options. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Since the city adopted the video release policy more than a decade ago, experience has repeatedly demonstrated the fallacy of limiting inquiry to the precise moment when a police officer fires their gun. — Jamie Kalven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fallacy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallacy

Noun

The 29-year-old Christian Faith Madison died after walking into traffic, with her family arguing that the OpenAI chatbot had fueled her religious delusions during their extensive interactions, pushing her over the edge by romanticizing death.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 July 2026
The delusion is painful to watch, but the greater tragedy is that his proximity to this staggering wealth insures his and Lindsay’s misery.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026

Definition of delusion

Noun

Yes, a bit of deception has long been standard in listing photos — a wide lens, a bit of color saturation to make a viewless window appear brighter — but the tools today are more sophisticated, cheaper, and pretty ubiquitous.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 21 July 2026
Nolan reinvents him as a naive young soldier left outside the horse to sell Odysseus’ deception.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

Street skits satirized the myth of Modi’s tea-seller origins.

— Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
His adventures traversing a broken land of haunted people and animals may be less the stuff of future myth and more about trauma, but Yoon brilliantly creates voices for human and canine that make both more whole.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of myth

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
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

Definition of deceptiveness

Noun

Next, there's the identity lag, where an outdated self-concept drives continued overexertion; and the illusion of recoverability, where believing resources can always fix health damage later down the road.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Disappointments like you thrive on pain, on fear, and on the illusion of power.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Definition of illusion

Noun

As Nora’s speech and Catherine’s kind moments suggest, characters’ actions don’t consistently reflect their overall moral stance, which is often based on misunderstandings and falsehoods, its validity unknowable even to them.

— Judy Berman, Time, 27 July 2026
In the film, however, Odysseus’s falsehoods have dire consequences, an apparent reflection of the biblical assertion that false witness is a sin.

— Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026

Definition of falsehood

Browse Nearby Words

fallaciousness

fallacy

fal-lal

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“Fallacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallacy. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fallacy

noun

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