as in dishonest
telling or containing lies
that lying son of a gun told me that the used car had never been in an accident
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in deception
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in deceiving
to make a statement one knows to be untrue
would I lie to you about that?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in sitting
to occupy a place or location
I left the book lying on the counter
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hiding
to remain out of sight
paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lying
Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
And honesty will get you far in life and lying is not fun.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The definition of a lying, scumbag politician –– that is you.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2026
Among the many rules at Augusta National — no cell phones, no booing, no lying in the grass — patrons are not allowed to run.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
At the very least, the definition of lying must include speaking with the aim of causing one’s audience to adopt a falsehood.
—Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Because sensory deprivation enhances meditation, coffin-lying may create a potent meditative state, according to Zavislak.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026
The woman in this case gave a victim impact statement Thursday, saying that Donaldson has patterns of manipulation, violence and lying.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
Durango police fired Ball three days later for lying about drinking that night and for having his weapon on him while drunk, according the internal affairs records.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Damm said more than 1,000 homes are currently under construction as well as a highway linking the city to Copenhagen, lying about 60 miles west.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The White House criticized Star Wars’ Mark Hamill for posting an image of the president lying next to a gravestone.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 7 May 2026
And Fergie, who has been lying low outside of the UK, is reportedly not keen to return soon, even amid her daughter’s happy news.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 May 2026
Comer accused Democrats on the panel of trying to make political hay of the interview and of lying about details of the Epstein investigation for that purpose.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Democrats accused Lutnick of lying and evading their questions.
—Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Los Angeles is in crisis, but politicians keep lying.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Adjective
He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
—Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Noun
Huang throws the first group dinner of the series and, when confronted with both the rumors and the lying, quits on the spot.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
And honesty will get you far in life and lying is not fun.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The definition of a lying, scumbag politician –– that is you.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2026
Among the many rules at Augusta National — no cell phones, no booing, no lying in the grass — patrons are not allowed to run.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
At the very least, the definition of lying must include speaking with the aim of causing one’s audience to adopt a falsehood.
—Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Because sensory deprivation enhances meditation, coffin-lying may create a potent meditative state, according to Zavislak.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026
The woman in this case gave a victim impact statement Thursday, saying that Donaldson has patterns of manipulation, violence and lying.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Across this luminous surface, Baselitz drew thin, ink-like figures, either himself or his wife Elke, lying horizontally, as if seen from above.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
Durango police fired Ball three days later for lying about drinking that night and for having his weapon on him while drunk, according the internal affairs records.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Damm said more than 1,000 homes are currently under construction as well as a highway linking the city to Copenhagen, lying about 60 miles west.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The White House criticized Star Wars’ Mark Hamill for posting an image of the president lying next to a gravestone.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 7 May 2026
And Fergie, who has been lying low outside of the UK, is reportedly not keen to return soon, even amid her daughter’s happy news.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 May 2026
Comer accused Democrats on the panel of trying to make political hay of the interview and of lying about details of the Epstein investigation for that purpose.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Democrats accused Lutnick of lying and evading their questions.
—Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Los Angeles is in crisis, but politicians keep lying.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lying
Adjective
-
Musk attorney Steven Molo cited earlier testimony from OpenAI board members and former executives that Altman was dishonest and created a toxic culture of lying.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
The case, which has only recently come to the attention of POST officials, highlights the limits of state oversight even after lawmakers passed significant police reform aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
What begins as a small con deepens when the painter’s shrewd agent (Gilles Lellouche) spots an opportunity, encouraging Suzanne to continue the deception as a way to revive his client’s creativity — and bankroll them both.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
-
Olivia Beech, America’s youngest female sommelier, tragically lost her sense of taste during COVID, but relied on her sharp sense of smell until she was fired for her deception.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
He's accused of deceiving more than 6,500 pet owners and denying them promised burial services.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
Journalists must avoid deception, but the primary instance when it may be excused is in deceiving certain sources during undercover investigations on an issue of public importance.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Prior to his first season leading LAFC, Dos Santos said his coaching style is more aggressive than pragmatic.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
News12 said that on Friday a trail of blood could be seen leading out from the building.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
It’s located a little more than 30 minutes east of Tampa, sitting farther inland than Land O’ Lakes.—
Megan Vaz,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
Most nursing school graduates are routinely approved, but over the past three years, the board has stopped hundreds of people with diplomas from Operation Nightingale schools from sitting for the exam.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
There are a lot of little extras hiding in cupboards or around the corner.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
The entire operation was hiding in plain sight, neighbors said.—
Allen Devlin,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, the podcast acknowledges that outward appearances can be misleading.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Experts warn that by the time others leave reviews or complain about the misleading claims, the sites often go offline or move on to selling another product.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
This week, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi gave a master class in obfuscation, prevarication, and pettiness.—
John Ficarra,
Air Mail,
11 Oct. 2025
-
There was no picture, there was no drawing, there has been so many lies, so much prevarication, so much cover up.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lying. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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