half-truths

noun

plural of half-truth
as in lies
a statement that is only partly true and that is intended to deceive people I'm tired of all these half-truths—I want to know the real story.

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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 half-truths These accusations are utter nonsense, concocted from distortions, half-truths and lies. — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 Years of deception, half-truths, and emotional compromises finally surface, forcing Rasheda, Geneva, Naomi, Tiffany, and Bridgette to confront not just the men in their lives, but one another. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 Her backstory is littered with half-truths and deceptions, including a lie that her mentally disabled younger sister was murdered after being kidnapped. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 When Juliette gets an audience with the Algorithm, the Mayor tells the voice some half-truths about why someone needs to go to Silo 17 immediately. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026 The Soviet Union embraced Lenin’s concept of agitation—the use of emotional slogans and half-truths to influence the masses. — Marc Fisher, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 Don’t settle for half-truths; seek meaningful joy. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026 Some information is useful, some is harmful and some are half-truths that can cost you real money. — Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026 People who rely on half-truths often underestimate how visible their behavior becomes. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for half-truths
  1. lies
  2. tales
  3. stories
  4. distortions
  5. exaggerations
Noun
  • The Chinese government has refuted the claims as lies and defended its practice and policy in Xinjiang as fighting terror and ensuring stability.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Paytas alleged that Ethan would spread lies about her family after the podcast ended and mocked her most traumatizing moments, like being molested by a teacher as a child.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of lies
Noun
  • In your garden-variety ghost story, the protagonist is generally the haunted, not the haunt, and the tales themselves are generally about how unhappy the protagonist is to find he or she is haunted.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Soon, tales of loss, memory and hopeful closure become central to the buildup, along with worried feelings of climbers’ loved ones.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of tales
Noun
  • Harmless stories, dangerous behavior Some datasets explored seemingly ordinary subjects, including beekeeping, professional wrestling, and historical public-health cases.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Pedestrians can peer down through a 2- to 3-foot-wide crevice and see stories down to the railroad tracks.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stories
Noun
  • These weren't the old deep fake videos of the past that are full of distortions.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • These accusations are utter nonsense, concocted from distortions, half-truths and lies.
    — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of distortions
Noun
  • The students maintain that the conversations consisted largely of deliberately provocative jokes, internet memes and political exaggerations that were never intended as genuine threats.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Republican president claims historic levels of foreign investment that are a mix of exaggerations and wishful thinking.
    — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of exaggerations

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Cite this Entry

“Half-truths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half-truths. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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