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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

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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 While audits and hand counts have shown that the state's election results are accurate, Colorado has been at the epicenter of false election claims. Bente Birkeland, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025 His wife, Rebecca Haro, was charged with two crimes — murder and filing a false report — and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing the day Jake Haro will be sentenced. Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025 There were discussions about the addition of false eyelashes, according to the film’s visual effects makeup artist and creature designer, Mike Hill, but the consensus was that Elordi’s own were long and fluttering enough. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025 Still, the anachronistic label may ultimately be a false comfort. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • Engineers outfitted the device with a heater to melt ice in the winter, a customization that should improve accuracy during Arizona’s freeze-thaw cycles that have long created erroneous measurements.
    Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Vedra and other debt law experts said a high rate of default judgments indicates a system that favors the pursuers over the pursued — and increases the chances someone will be harmed by an erroneous bill.
    Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Available in 12 faux hair and thong color variations with straight and curly textures, the thongs are currently sold out on the Skims website.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Lifestride Wanderer Slip-On Sneakers An everyday pair of sneakers should be convenient and comfortable, and the slip-on style and faux laces make the shoes easy to put on and take off in seconds.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • First Alert 4 reported that this counterfeit note was marked as ancestor money, a symbolic bill burned as a ritual offering in Chinese culture.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Today’s teens are navigating an ecosystem where counterfeit Oxycodone, Xanax, Percocet and Adderall are accessible on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat and Telegram.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The program for career day will feature panels, mock interviews and networking opportunities.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct more complex experiments using mock debris with different shapes and compositions.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Jason Clarke is a force as Alex, whose booming charm hides fraudulent business dealings and a growing opioid addiction, while Arquette is Emmy-worthy as the long-suffering but demanding Maggie.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The analyst added that the fraudulent nature of the borrowers hints at a unique situation rather than an underlying systematic issue.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Clarisse looks intimidating climbing out of a boat, as does Bushnell’s traitorous Luke, who wields a sharp-looking knife.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 24 July 2025
  • There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Nelson questioned how the device could justify its IP rating and called the hinge design misleading.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The lawmakers say this claim is misleading, adding that the office should be able to respond to communications by utilizing non-furloughed employees or prioritizing carryover funding at its disposal.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Big 12 did not clarify which part of Leipold's statement was inaccurate.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • But Johnson and other GOP leaders have repeatedly said Democrats want to extend Affordable Care Act and Medicaid benefits to countless undocumented immigrants, which is inaccurate.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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