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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 Kruse and Fialko filed their lawsuit in August, accusing Presley of making false allegations of elder abuse against them to ruin their reputations. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025 Yet part of the force of it is that Michôd has not contorted Christy Martin’s life into some false arc; what was going on beneath her triumph is portrayed with a desperate and idiosyncratic honesty. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025 Snowy Day is an important antidote to this false concept. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025 There have been several false dawns with reports about a new series or movie circulating for years. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • Lauber ruled that discounted cash flow valuation of land is erroneous as a matter of law.
    Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • One subject of a Raffi Khatchadourian piece complained that multiple details about his life were made up and demanded to know what idiot had given Khatchadourian the erroneous details.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There are so many fun home decor in Pottery Barn’s clearance section for less than $50, including candle holders, faux plants, and even (some) bedding.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Particular standouts are a walnut and parchment media console, faux-fur pouf ottomans with an angular chrome base, a unique performance velvet sectional, and a particularly striking set of dining chairs.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have warned consumers that counterfeit Labubu are poorly made and may contain small, detachable parts such as eyes, hands, and feet, which present a serious choking hazard to young children.
    Haicen Yang, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
  • An exam by an independent certified jeweler confirmed the watches were counterfeit.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Sweater My grandmother also purchased this 100 percent cashmere mock-neck sweater to have on hand in case the weather requires an extra layer.
    Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Websites with unusually long browser names or a lack of searchable company representatives or contact information could be fraudulent.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Blount deposited money into the account until April 2022, when the bank shut it down and reversed over $70,000 worth of the fraudulent deposits, prosecutors said.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 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
  • Overpayments can occur for many reasons, the agency said, including incorrect wage reporting, failure to meet work requirements or providing false or misleading information.
    Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In court, government lawyers frequently made false or misleading claims about the men’s whereabouts.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Apple had to claw back key features, including its (very funny but very inaccurate) text message and news app summaries.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The agent’s outputs could be inaccurate, irrelevant or even risky, negatively impacting ROI.
    Manosiz Bhattacharyya, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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