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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lying
Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
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
At least, that’s what a trend out of Japan, dubbed coffin-lying, is promoting.
—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
The roles of bluffing and secrecy in our interactions with others (or, how lying can help—and hurt—us).
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
OpenAI has also shared examples of its models cheating and lying and, in an experiment showcased on the second floor of its San Francisco headquarters, appearing to converse in a totally indecipherable language.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
There is a tedium, however, to scrolling through a bunch of stuff that isn’t real, that maybe isn’t even pretending to be real, all for the sake of lying for no reason.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
He is accused of lying his way onto the staff in the first place, manipulating young, female and minority employees to cover his tracks and sowing an environment of fear within the organization, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
There is still no foolproof way to know whether someone is lying about their age, but Meta is using AI to look for signals that a user may be under 18 and place those accounts into teen safety settings.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The lowest-lying streets in Key Biscayne flood about 15 times a year now, and without fixes some spots could see up to 90 days of flooding every year by 2040, consultants from AECOM found.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Controversial finish of the weekend, though, came at Anfield, where Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz chose to ruthlessly lob Liverpool’s Freddie Woodman, despite the goalkeeper lying injured and prostrate on the ground.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … 'BASELESS' REPORTING — FBI Director Kash Patel calls out 'lying' NBC News reporter at press conference.
—FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 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
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
At least, that’s what a trend out of Japan, dubbed coffin-lying, is promoting.
—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
The roles of bluffing and secrecy in our interactions with others (or, how lying can help—and hurt—us).
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
OpenAI has also shared examples of its models cheating and lying and, in an experiment showcased on the second floor of its San Francisco headquarters, appearing to converse in a totally indecipherable language.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
The outlets reported, citing police, that the son discovered his mother lying face down in a pool of blood from stab wounds and his father dead in another room.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Locally heavy rain will quickly reduce visibility and result in ponding of water on roadways, standing water in low lying areas, and minor flooding of creeks, streams, and areas of poor drainage.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
There is a tedium, however, to scrolling through a bunch of stuff that isn’t real, that maybe isn’t even pretending to be real, all for the sake of lying for no reason.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
He is accused of lying his way onto the staff in the first place, manipulating young, female and minority employees to cover his tracks and sowing an environment of fear within the organization, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
There is still no foolproof way to know whether someone is lying about their age, but Meta is using AI to look for signals that a user may be under 18 and place those accounts into teen safety settings.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The lowest-lying streets in Key Biscayne flood about 15 times a year now, and without fixes some spots could see up to 90 days of flooding every year by 2040, consultants from AECOM found.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Controversial finish of the weekend, though, came at Anfield, where Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz chose to ruthlessly lob Liverpool’s Freddie Woodman, despite the goalkeeper lying injured and prostrate on the ground.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … 'BASELESS' REPORTING — FBI Director Kash Patel calls out 'lying' NBC News reporter at press conference.
—FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lying
Adjective
-
If the dishonest ballot language is approved, at least county residents have reasons to hope state courts will protect them.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But Marking alleges, according to documents obtained by The Bee, that the board and former Superintendent Lisa Allen were well aware of the district’s financial picture when the contract was approved and that trustees have been dishonest about it in the months since.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Fascist propaganda works by distraction and deception.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Flores must continue to utilize deception to apply pressure on the opposing quarterback.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
However, he was later granted a new trial after a judge ruled that star witness Duane Deaver, a State Bureau of Investigation crime lab agent, provided misleading and false testimony, per WRAL.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Cass County Emergency Services Board, National Weather Service and Everbridge are investigating the cause of the misleading notifications.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 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
Adjective
-
Who never bothered to delete the erroneous post.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Then, in 2005, the Texas First Court of Appeals overturned Yates’ conviction after finding the forensic psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution gave erroneous testimony that may have prejudiced the jury.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But even for in-person classes, adaptations to prevent LLM cheating are often concessions that reduce pedagogical quality.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Time and again, the panel of experts invited to provide testimony said voter fraud is exceedingly rare and that there is no evidence of widespread cheating.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.—
Hope Moses,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Biopics entertain their own special relationship to the truth, but how often is one railed as inaccurate to the point of blatant dishonesty?—
Jasmine Vojdani,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Another 24% of participants cited poor leadership, dishonesty and personal dislikes as their reason for disapproving.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lying. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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