1
as in delusion
a false idea or belief
the possibility of a perpetual motion machine is one falsehood that has been disproved by modern physics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lie
a statement known by its maker to be untrue and made in order to deceive
several falsehoods in the witness's testimony that may be grounds for perjury
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deception
the quality or state of being false
scientists eventually demonstrated the falsehood of the claim that prehistoric fish did not evolve lungs and legs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deceit
the tendency to tell lies
a cynic who believes that politics are a veritable fount of falsehood
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 falsehood
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
Here's How Palantir responded with a lengthy blog post that said the Times story included numerous falsehoods and misleading statements.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
In addition to spreading falsehoods and increasing vitriol, hateful campaigning is one of the reasons people check out of politics altogether, a problem that weakens our political system.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
Unlike in Ukraine, his initial goal would not be to subjugate the country but simply to expose Europe’s weakness and the falsehood of NATO’s commitment to collective security.
—Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for falsehood
Miles Parks, NPR, 28 June 2025
Here's How Palantir responded with a lengthy blog post that said the Times story included numerous falsehoods and misleading statements.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
In addition to spreading falsehoods and increasing vitriol, hateful campaigning is one of the reasons people check out of politics altogether, a problem that weakens our political system.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
Unlike in Ukraine, his initial goal would not be to subjugate the country but simply to expose Europe’s weakness and the falsehood of NATO’s commitment to collective security.
—Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for falsehood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falsehood
Noun
-
In certain contexts, that unrestrained flattery might lead to psychological distress: In recent months, there have been growing reports of individuals experiencing AI psychosis, in which extensive conversations with chatbots may have amplified delusions.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
-
That's a chronic mental health condition where a person experiences symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorders like depression.—
Steve Drummond,
NPR,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Basing a political movement on lies and conspiracy theories is inevitably going to come back to haunt you.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
14 July 2025
-
The misinformation, and sometimes blatant lies, being spread around the country could result in someone stepping into a federal operation and suddenly finding themselves face-to-face with a killer who has nothing to lose.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Last summer, an exponentially growing audience of fans watched her fall head-over-heels for Brit Aaron Evans, only to be left heartbroken over his deception and sobbing to an entirely too appropriate Sabrina Carpenter song chosen by the show's editors.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
Finding The Right Balance The cost of workplace deception is more than just a nasty surprise come employee feedback day.—
Dmitry Malin,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
In the 21st century, varying degrees of financial deceit — from the Enron accounting scandal to the devastating consequences of massive Ponzi schemes like the one run by Bernie Madoff — continue to impact people across the country.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
-
Every fraudulent claim becomes part of the data used to set next year’s rates, creating a feedback loop where today’s deceit has the potential to become tomorrow’s financial burden.—
Paulina Wierzbicka,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
In my own writing, the process of myth making fascinates me.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
Reason 2: The Obsession with Control The second myth plaguing modern business is the assumption that complex systems can be controlled through tighter management processes.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The Coldplay public humiliation is a cautionary tale of atrophied American privacy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 July 2025
-
That tale is just one of many in the story that don’t show Joel in an especially flattering light.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Pilot error caused the crash, according to a final report from the National Transportation Safety Board.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
-
Without a robust knowledge foundation, these early wins can mask serious risks—from compliance breaches to costly decision errors.—
Stéphane Donzé,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Read the full story by Nick Mardowanec on Newsweek.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
-
Get a weekly round up of the top tech stories from around the world in your inbox every Friday.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Falsehood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falsehood. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share