1
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
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
Pollsters asked respondents about three false claims: that the measles vaccine is more dangerous than getting the disease; that the vaccine causes autism in children, and that vitamin A can prevent a measles infection.
—
Maria Godoy, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Reemerging as a cult figure with cameo roles in films and TV shows, a Broadway revival of his Pee-wee stage show, and a final Pee-wee film, Reubens refuses to have his legacy be defined by media scandals based on false rumors.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
But the jitters still shook him, a false-start whistle blowing on his first 40-yard attempt at February’s NFL combine.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
Sanchez and her co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for false
Maria Godoy, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
Reemerging as a cult figure with cameo roles in films and TV shows, a Broadway revival of his Pee-wee stage show, and a final Pee-wee film, Reubens refuses to have his legacy be defined by media scandals based on false rumors.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
But the jitters still shook him, a false-start whistle blowing on his first 40-yard attempt at February’s NFL combine.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
Sanchez and her co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
-
For generations, his grave has been marked by an erroneous headstone with a Latin cross, not a Star of David, something Eiferman learned only recently.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2025
-
But Trump sees trade deficits as America getting ripped off, which is erroneous.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Push your chairs and couches together to create a faux sectional look.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Apr. 2025
-
And while both traditional and faux leather-making processes involve chemicals, PVC can release pollutants and toxic chemicals.—
Gia Yetikyel,
Vogue,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Also known as package confusion, this form of attack was first demonstrated in 2021 in a proof-of-concept exploit that executed counterfeit code on networks belonging to some of the biggest companies on the planet, Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla included.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
-
In February 2018, during the previous Trump administration, Ortega-Anguiano tried to reenter the U.S. with a counterfeit document.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Some mock drafts had the Steelers taking a running back like Omarion Hampton in the first round.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Lucky for us, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz dives right into that dicey proposition with his very, very early look at the players who could be prominent figures in mock drafts to come.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Any email platform is exposed to this kind of attack, with scammers using fraudulent alerts and malicious links to entrap victims.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Affected individuals may be vulnerable to identity theft, fraudulent account openings and targeted phishing attempts.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Foreign military interventions can change victims from being viewed as a nuisance into being seen as powerful and traitorous enemies, potentially capable of exacting revenge, seizing power, or breaking away from the state.—
Benjamin A. Valentino,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Oct. 2011
Adjective
-
Sometimes the results are inaccurate, generated by AI hallucinations – responses AI systems produce that sound convincing but are incorrect, made up or irrelevant.—
Nicole M. Bennett,
The Conversation,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Speaking with the New York Times, Jesuit expert Rev. Thomas J. Reese cited the layout of tables inside the Sistine Chapel, as well as the color of the carpet, to be inaccurate.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The organic cotton is pesticide-free as Boll & Branch uses marigolds on their farms in place of synthetic alternatives, and the farming methods use less water.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Mounting concerns about synthetic dyes, which are widely used in commercial food production, have caused producers to turn to natural alternatives — such as cochineal extract, a derivative from parasitic bugs that is a powerful substitute for red dyes.—
Philissa Cramer,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share