lie 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈlī How to pronounce lie (audio)
Definition of lienext
as in to deceive
to make a statement one knows to be untrue would I lie to you about that?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lie

2 of 3

verb (2)

ˈlī How to pronounce lie (audio)
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
as in to be
to occupy a place or location I left the book lying on the counter

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

ˈlī How to pronounce lie (audio)
as in tale
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive he wanted to deny the accusation, but he couldn't tell a lie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Cavan Sullivan has become well-known, but alongside the (future) Manchester City winger lie three more exciting options. — David Hickey, NBC news, 14 July 2026 The greatest threat will lie across the Edwards Plateau into Texas Hill Country and along the Rio Grande Valley between the Big Bend and down toward Eagle Pass. — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Noun
David is a hunted outlaw, forced to hide among his enemies and live yet another dangerous lie. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026 Missoni amenity kits stocked with Grown Alchemist skincare products, plush bedding, and lie-flat seats are available on Delta One long-haul flights. — Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lie
  1. deceive
  2. lead
  3. be
  4. hide
  5. tale
  6. fool
  7. go
  8. sit
Verb
  • Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring with a spectacular cross-shot that deceived Jordan Pickford and, although Jude Bellingham struck back for England in first-half stoppage time, Norway looked the more likely winners as the second period wore on.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Only after this second handover did my father realize he had been deceived.
    — Ari Maas, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • And when Burnham — favored by many within Labour to lead the party and the country — won a special election for a seat in Parliament, Starmer gave in to the mounting pressure to quit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • Heading into the final weekend of the tournament, Messi led the Golden Boot race over talented players far younger, tied with France’s Kylian Mbappe at eight goals, but holding the edge with four assists to three.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of lead
Verb
  • Given Nolan’s famous aversion to AI, there was a relief in knowing this incredible display of creativity came primarily from practical effects and shooting on location.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • There was no other contestant other than Burnham, who comfortably surpassed that threshold.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of be
Verb
  • What was the thinking behind hiding this information up until the finale?
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • For most of the past century, mathematicians have been exploring the limits of Ramsey theory, the study of order hiding inside chaos—or, more accurately, how much disorder can be packed into a system before order must inevitably emerge.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Definition of hide
Noun
  • There’s a house on the property where Francis Ford Coppola filmed Vito Corleone avenging his mother’s death in The Godfather Part II, but Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were interested in a much older tale about Sicily—one of gods and mortals.
    — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 14 July 2026
  • This underdog tale — a popular trope in musical theater — offers many moving moments, though several feel cloying.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of tale
Verb
  • You may be fooled into joining a brokerage with high fees, poor investment options or other red flags.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Jairzinho, Brazil vs Italy, 1970 Jairzinho steals in to give Brazil a two-goal lead with 20 minutes left, controlling the ball with his thigh and then failing to connect with his finish, which is enough to fool goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • The whole scene looks like Carmy went full Dexter on the back of house crew.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Over the past week, the conflict between the United States and Iran has gone from a simmering tit-for-tat to something that much more resembles all-out war.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • Greenstein’s brother and sister conducted the ceremony, and at the reception, everyone sat at tables named for Italian directors and feasted on dishes like linguine with baby squid and soused trout by chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Of more pressing concern is the man who now sits atop the Rangers’ pay structure, sharp-shooting wing and former Vegas Golden Knight Pavel Dorofeyev, who signed a seven-year deal which carries an average annual value of $11 million.
    — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of sit

Phrases Containing lie

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lids
lie
lie back
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Cite this Entry

“Lie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lie. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lie

Nglish: Translation of lie for Spanish Speakers

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