HALF-TRUTHS Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

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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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 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 In this environment, influencers and politically motivated accounts now function as de facto broadcasters, often spreading half-truths, distortions or outright falsehoods with little accountability. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for half-truths

Noun

Trump’s 2020 election lies were promoted on several Fox News shows, including Bartiromo’s, and led to numerous defamation lawsuits.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
There’s an incident at a gun range where Ned’s fear of looking emasculated requires his army vet girlfriend to fall for his very dumb, very obvious lies.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of lies

Noun

As is common with these tales of sliding doors, the narrative isn’t linear.

— Emmalee Reed, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Perhaps this saga of planetary conquest is also a sly commentary on Hollywood imperialism, in which even the most far-flung of small-town tales must be overwhelmed by big-name stars in visual-effects drag.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of tales

Noun

As a dad of two daughters, Murdy said he’s made a conscious effort to create strong female-centric original stories like KILLceañera for Horror Nights.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
The current building code typically allows a single staircase for residential buildings with three stories or less.

— Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of stories

Noun

Until that happens, there’s your growing discontent, and there are the distortions that ripple through your field whenever there’s a lack of clarity.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
Such payment distortions can force primary care clinicians to chase higher visit counts at the expense of these other activities and dissuade future doctors and advanced care practitioners from entering the field.

— Ishani Ganguli, STAT, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of distortions

Noun

Staffers for major political figures have puzzled over the content, and are growing concerned about the rise of a new wave of videos with errors, exaggerations, misleading comments, and a tone that can be downright weird.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Distracting from real issues These conspiracy theories are more than exaggerations for a broader audience.

— Aaron Coy Moulton, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of exaggerations

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half-truth

half-truths

halfway

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“Half-truths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half-truths. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of half-truths

noun

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