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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 Dayton Schaffer, 18, is charged with a false report concerning the use of a firearm against a person(s) and misuse of a two-way communication device, according to the sheriff's office. Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025 Haitians in Springfield were political targets Springfield, Ohio faced bomb threats and Haitian immigrants were harassed after Republican leaders ‒ including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance ‒ perpetuated false rumors that migrants were eating pets. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Simultaneously, Dani Olmo could act as a false number 9 while a Robert Lewandowski believed to be on his way to Saudi Arabia in 2026 is gradually phased out. Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 But an investigation resulted in an astonishing call from the other side of the world, which revealed that ‘The GPO Girl’ was, in fact, a 25-year-old Australian, who has created more than 100 false identities. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • In numerous replies and posts, Grok wrote messaged that glorified Adolf Hitler, attached stereotypes to users with Jewish surnames and spread erroneous conspiracy theories about the role of Jewish people in government, commerce and media.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 10 July 2025
  • Because of erroneous information on the website for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a story published July 6 on Page A1 incorrectly reported that former San Jose police officer George Brown’s police license with the state had been taken off suspension.
    Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Save on a new faux leather crossbody from Vera Bradley for an impressive 76 percent off, a pair of cork footbed sandals that resemble popular styles worn by Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 9 July 2025
  • Without it, as inequality worsens, the next populist may not be a faux champion of the people, but a genuine anti-capitalist insurgent.
    Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Another respondent described neighbors overdosing on counterfeit Chinese drugs.
    Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
  • Enrico Ronquillo, 37, was indicted for using a counterfeit driver’s license and a birth certificate – both from California – to impersonate a U.S. citizen from May 11 to 14, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska said in a June 16 news release.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a recent mock draft, Baseball America speculated the Sox would select Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold if the run on prep shortstops left him on the board.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • This time, he was invited to continue in the selection process, which included another test over Zoom with about 30 other hopeful applicants, a personality interview and a virtual mock game.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Why Amazon Prime Day scammers are winning and how to stay ahead While Amazon hasn't released a formal statement yet, the company maintains ongoing efforts to detect and remove fraudulent listings and suspicious domains.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
  • Republished on July 4 with further police and federal agency warnings that fraudulent callers are now targeting smartphone users in the U.S. This is not the FBI.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 4 July 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
  • The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, though Republican leaders dismissed the projection as inaccurate.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2025
  • And finding those homes proved challenging because many records were missing or inaccurate — some handwritten on notecards dating to the early 1900s.
    Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Administration Marty Makary speaks at a news conference on removing synthetic dyes from America’s food supply, at the Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, DC on April 22, 2025.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 July 2025
  • Some supplements also use synthetic sweeteners or sugar, said Hirsch, which is important for people with diabetes to know.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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