Definition of falsenext
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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 This game preserves the difficulty of coming up with an elaborate, consistent false narrative on the spot, and the challenge of adapting that narrative on the fly when other players present convincing (and sometimes fake) counter-evidence. Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026 An October 2024 indictment initially charged Owens with conspiracy, federal program bribery, wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements, according to the report. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 All the activity around how the nation votes and runs its elections is a reflection of the Republican president’s long fixation on his false claim that his 2020 election defeat was rigged. Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Up to 15% of EKG screenings can produce false-positive results in healthy adolescents with no history of heart disease. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • In addition, the trial judge gave the jury erroneous instructions, the appeals court ruled.
    David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • But such fine evidence of the erroneous human touch in the publishing process is, of course, cherished by collectors of this day.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Inside, a memory foam insole with arch support cushions every step, and the soft faux leather molds to your ideal fit over time.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • The white interior and faux leather are also available in Overland and reviewed Limited trims.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • Merchandise including counterfeit perfumes, Rolex watches, knockoff Knicks apparel, sunglasses, electronics and Labubus were seized, in addition to $145,000 in cash, police said.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • According to the sheriff's office, Major Crimes Detectives responded to the scene to collect evidence, which included several sheets of counterfeit currency.
    Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • On Thursday, Gary Police Department personnel visited campers to teach about crime scene investigation and create a mock crime scene for students to solve.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • An 11-year-old Dexter Sol Ansell is peering into his Zoom camera, hands pressed to his cheeks and mouth wide open in mock shock.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • All three Republican candidates apparently hired the same signature gathering firm to collect signatures, many of which appear to have been fraudulent.
    Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 2 July 2026
  • However, because agentic systems can execute actions independently, an error can become a severe operational failure, such as authorizing fraudulent transactions or deleting mission-critical databases.
    Barney Krishnan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • And at the very center of Hell is Satan himself, the traitorous Archangel Lucifer, depicted as a monstrous creature with wings and three heads.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
  • Russell fabricates a lie with the rest of the villains, and the heroes believe it, despite a warning from one traitorous tribemate.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee released a report this week criticizing the president and Freedom 250, accusing it of diverting funds and misleading sponsors.
    Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • The charge alleges a person knowingly defrauded another by using false or misleading information to obtain money, property, credit or a loan.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • This commonly results from inaccurate color representation, poor fit or discrepancies between the physical item and its depiction on the website.
    Tal Lev-Ami, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Choi said McGee would use terminology that could have swayed a jury and sometimes provided an inaccurate window for a time of death.
    Aki Nace, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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