FALSE Synonyms: 317 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'false' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of false are disloyal , faithless , perfidious , traitorous , and treacherous . While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. // betrayed by false friends

Q: When is 'disloyal' a more appropriate choice than 'false'?

Although the words disloyal and false have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. // disloyal to their country

Q: When is it sensible to use 'faithless' instead of 'false'?

The words faithless and false can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. // faithless allies

Q: How are the words 'perfidious' and 'faithless' related as synonyms of 'false'?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability. // a perfidious double-crosser

Q: Where would 'traitorous' be a reasonable alternative to 'false'?

In some situations, the words traitorous and false are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. // traitorous acts punishable by death

Q: When can 'treacherous' be used instead of 'false'?

The synonyms treacherous and false are sometimes interchangeable, but treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. // a treacherous adviser

false

adjective

ˈfȯls

Definition of false next

as in erroneous

not being in agreement with what is true early reports about the explosion contained much false information

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials George Washington's false teeth were not made of wood but of elephant ivory and cow's teeth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in counterfeit

being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud arrested for selling false ID cards to teenagers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mock

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality so much of the sympathy that the widow received was false and hypocritical, since it came from people who never liked her husband in the first place

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fraudulent

marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value false advertising that claimed that the vegetables were organically grown when they weren't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in traitorous

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something false friends who deserted the prizefighter when all his money was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in misleading

tending or having power to deceive it turned out that the con man had made false promises of marriage to a dozen women

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word false different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of false are disloyal, faithless, perfidious, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

When is disloyal a more appropriate choice than false?

Although the words disloyal and false have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

When is it sensible to use faithless instead of false?

The words faithless and false can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

How are the words perfidious and faithless related as synonyms of false?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

Where would traitorous be a reasonable alternative to false?

In some situations, the words traitorous and false are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

When can treacherous be used instead of false?

The synonyms treacherous and false are sometimes interchangeable, but treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

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 false The federal Lacey Act prohibits the sale or transportation of wildlife taken in violation of state law and also criminalizes providing false information related to wildlife involved in interstate or international commerce. —

Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026 Evidencing at every level the way culture and biology interact, music gives the lie to this false binary. —

Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Jackson called the allegations knowingly false and deliberately timed to damage him among conservative voters as polling showed the race tightening. —

Christopher Harris, CBS News, 20 May 2026 Colbert went on to challenge him and make fun of everything from the orange hair to false claims the election was stolen. —

Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for false

Recent Examples of Synonyms for false

Adjective

Some free-speech experts at the time felt Disney had a chance to win that case, which revolved around erroneous statements made by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Spoofing relies on transmitting false signals that mimic authentic satellite signals to trick signal receivers into calculating erroneous positions for aircraft and other users.

— Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026

Definition of erroneous

Browse Nearby Words

fall (to)

false

falsehood

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of false

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

sacrosanct

Popular in Grammar & Usage

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

What to Call the Inept, Incompetent, and Inferior

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

10 Words for Food with Unfortunate-Sounding Names

Popular

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

Games & Quizzes