lying 1 of 4

Definition of lyingnext

lying

2 of 4

noun

lying

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of lie

lying

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of lie
1
as in leading
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 hiding
to remain out of sight paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lying
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
His lying has finally caught up with him. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 17 May 2026 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 To understand whether coffin-lying can actually boost calmness and relieve stress, Outside spoke to two therapists. Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
In the transcript, the astronauts describe watching for the flashes while lying awake in the spacecraft. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026 Prolonged heavy rain will result in ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding of creeks and streams. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026 The criminal indictment accuses the ship operator of intentionally relying on an improper fuel pump and then lying about it to investigators. ABC News, 20 May 2026 Arms flew around in exasperation, and the woman left the table for such a long time that the large dog lying at their feet sat up and whimpered in the direction of her departure. Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Unlike SpaceX’s hangars full of reusable rockets, there’s no building with cameras, spectrometers, telescopes, and spacecraft buses—the core chassis of a satellite platform—lying around waiting to launch. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026 The plaintiff’s counsel repeatedly questioned Altman’s character, accusing him of being untrustworthy, and of routinely lying. Ashley Capoot,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 19 May 2026 But Savannah’s sister Annie and her husband Tommaso have been lying low for the past few weeks, and the reason makes sense. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 18 May 2026 OpenAI is already in a legal battle with its estranged cofounder Elon Musk, in which CEO Sam Altman was accused of lying about his plans for the company; the judge heard closing arguments yesterday. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lying
Adjective
  • The business world will likely never be without people who are dishonest and lack integrity, but ethics and moral integrity are still important.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • The election took place amid a surge in violent crime and corruption that has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • Widespread deception was rampant, with businesses spending far more on green marketing than on actual sustainability improvements.
    Suvrat Dhanorkar, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
  • That, along with the angle of his arm—his arm slot, in baseball terms—adds another layer of deception.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
  • Donovan Mitchell, whose box score of 21 points was deceiving, dribbled aimlessly while being hounded by Detroit defenders until his weak shot attempt was easily knocked away by Ausar Thompson before time expired.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Both teams were shorthanded, as Indiana star Aliyah Boston missed her first WNBA game due to a lower right leg injury, and Storm forward and leading scorer Dominique Malonga missed her first game this season due to a concussion.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • The leading 10 players come from seven countries, four of them major champions.
    Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Eager to elevate your outdoor space ahead of porch-sitting season?
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026
  • The central bank’s monetary policy arm, the Federal Open Market Committee, sets rates based on current economic conditions and outlook, not the demands of a sitting president.
    Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • The Dodge County District Attorney’s Office also formally charged Aaron with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse, the sheriff’s office said.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
  • The companies submitted the request Monday after a criminal indictment accused the operator, Synergy Marine Private Limited, and an employee of failing to comply with maritime safety laws, falsifying inspections, and hiding dangerous conditions on the ship.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • Martin suggested that other Republicans are circulating equally misleading mailers, but that the party is targeting DeMaio.
    Andrew Graham May 15, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026
  • The show has already done these misleading posters, including one where Homelander floats in space, watching nukes go off on Earth below.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 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

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Cite this Entry

“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lying. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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