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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 Quite often in the movie, there’s so many false wins and starts and hard crashes. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 18 May 2025 But others who are familiar with what the program does — and doesn’t do — suggest such claims are exaggerated or false. Christopher O’Donnell, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025 Still, there’s no way yet to disprove the idea that the cost and confusion generated by wherever tariff policies land will cause the economy to falter, undercutting already-decelerating job creation and a creaky housing market, making the recent rally seem a false dawn. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 May 2025 Uncanny valley is a term for a reason: The brain can only take so much false information that’s appears to be real. Kate Aurthur, Variety, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • Still, Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador was erroneous, the government said.
    Ashley Oliver, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2025
  • There’s a chance the erroneous WinRE error might be a little persistent.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This depends on the material, but faux leather is usually less susceptible to damage from steam.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • Our feeds are flooded with faux news and half-truths, designed to prop up confirmation biases and advance political agendas.
    Slaine, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Low-quality or counterfeit imports have been an issue.
    Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • That the products allegedly had such errors, Levi’s said, shows that PBG willfully perpetuated a counterfeit scheme.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • In the past year, Sanders was projected as high as a top 3 NFL draft pick in some mock drafts.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 7 May 2025
  • With a draft order now known, a collection of our NHL reporters combined for a mock draft of the first 16 picks.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • In 2024, Nicolás Maduro won his reelection in a race contested as fraudulent by the opposition.
    Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 19 May 2025
  • Real examples: Six people were charged with attempting to steal $80 million through fraudulent checks tied to COVID-19 relief funds.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Michael Fassbender plays a British intelligence officer tasked with finding who leaked a top-secret software program and betrayed their country, and the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes his own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • After 2024’s data, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott were critical of the census estimates, saying data collection could be inaccurate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Post-Tribune archives.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • As Justin forges his own way forward, these unnecessary stories and inaccurate assumptions will continue.
    Rachel DeSantis, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Now, though, prices of synthetic diamonds have plummeted 90 percent at wholesale, according to a statement from the brand, marking a stark divergence from the price of traditional gems.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 9 May 2025
  • In announcing the replacements on Friday, the FDA said multiple food companies had already promised to remove the synthetic chemicals, making the 2026 target more likely.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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