Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

lie

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of lie

a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
  • he wanted to deny the accusation, but he couldnʼt tell a lie
Synonyms of lie

fable, fabrication, fairy tale, falsehood, falsity, fib, mendacity, prevarication, story, tale, taradiddle (or tarradiddle), untruth, whopper
Words Related to lie

distortion, exaggeration, half-truth

ambiguity, equivocation, obliquity

defamation, libel, slander

perjury

bluff, fiction, pose, pretense (or pretence)

humbug, jive, nonsense

canard, fallacy, misconception, myth

falsification, misinformation, misreport, misrepresentation, misstatement

deceit, deceitfulness, dishonesty, duplicity, fraudulence
Near Antonyms of lie

fact, truism, verity

honesty, truthfulness, veracity

authentication, confirmation, substantiation, validation, verification
Antonyms of lie

truth
1

lie

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of lie

to make a statement one knows to be untrue
  • would I lie to you about that?
Synonyms of lie

fabricate, fib, prevaricate
Words Related to lie

forswear (also foreswear), perjure

equivocate, fudge, palter

beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, kid, snow, take in, trick

defame, libel, slander, traduce

falsify, misreport, misrepresent, misstate

distort, garble

dissemble, dissimulate

misguide, misinform, mislead
Near Antonyms of lie

assert, swear, testify

authenticate, confirm, substantiate, validate, verify

Synonym Discussion of lie

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth. lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.
    • lied about where he had been
prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.
    • during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate
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
palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.
    • a swindler paltering with his investors
fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.
    • fibbed about the price of the new suit
2

lie

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of lie

1 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction
  • the train tracks lie just over that hill
Synonyms of lie

bear, extend, go, head, lead, run
Words Related to lie

cross, cut, pass

course, follow, span, traverse
2 to occupy a place or location
  • I left the book lying on the counter
Synonyms of lie

be, bear, sit, stand
Words Related to lie

command, overlook

hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry

await, wait

post, station

dwell, reside
3 to remain out of sight
  • paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout
Synonyms of lie

hide, hole up, lurk, repose, skulk
Words Related to lie

slink, sneak

avoid, elude, evade
Phrases Synonymous with lie

lie low, sit tight
Near Antonyms of lie

come out, materialize, show up, turn up
Antonyms of lie

appear

Synonym Discussion of lie

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth. lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.
    • lied about where he had been
prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.
    • during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate
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
palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.
    • a swindler paltering with his investors
fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.
    • fibbed about the price of the new suit

Learn More about lie

  1. Dictionary: Definition of lie Spanish Central: Translation of lie Nglish: Translation of lie for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lie for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up lie? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games