lie 1 of 3

lie

2 of 3

verb (2)

1
as in to lead
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the train tracks lie just over that hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to hide
to remain out of sight paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lie

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lie differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lie are equivocate, fib, palter, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

When could equivocate be used to replace lie?

The words equivocate and lie are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

Where would fib be a reasonable alternative to lie?

While in some cases nearly identical to lie, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

When is it sensible to use palter instead of lie?

While the synonyms palter and lie are close in meaning, palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

How do prevaricate and lie relate to one another?

Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

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 lie
Verb
Where the opportunities lie The front and the belly of the curve remain the most attractive, said Rieder, who is also the portfolio manager of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF (BINC) . Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 June 2025 But at the heart of its success lies a key principle: integration, but aligning them around the unique needs of each business owner. Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Noun
But once in Ireland, Fiona realizes that the story of her and her mother being abandoned on her 10th birthday was all along a protective lie. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025 The lie corporate America has told for too long is that culture is soft. Greg Dolan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lie
Noun
  • At least for now, the Saks story is no longer a tale about financing.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 7 July 2025
  • Both Van Poppel and Taylor, who injured his shoulder in a bar fight in 1993 and never reached the major leagues, are cautionary tales on the dangers of taking a high school pitcher in the first round.
    Melissa Lockard, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • The resurrection and the rest The Nick Drake story might have ended there — a cult artist remembered by few, lost to many.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
  • Douglas also shared some stories from Cuckoo’s Nest, including ones about Nicholson.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • One of the company's meteorologists, Jonathan Belles, debunked some of the most common falsehoods surrounding severe storms, recommending tips on how to best prepare for them.
    Katie Wiseman, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
  • The fact that the development and rollout follow Trump's falsehoods about widespread noncitizen voting makes election experts wary of how this new tool will work.
    Miles Parks, NPR, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • As a child, Carrington was raised on fairy tales in an English manor house and as an adult was caught, tragically at times, in the upheaval of WWII Europe and in the constant company of Surrealists.
    Literary Hub July 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
  • To pretend a Squid Game victory could be anything but pyrrhic would be to accept a fairy tale written by the worst people on the planet.
    Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lie. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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