Definition of mendaciousnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective mendacious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mendacious are deceitful, dishonest, and untruthful. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

When is deceitful a more appropriate choice than mendacious?

The words deceitful and mendacious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When might dishonest be a better fit than mendacious?

In some situations, the words dishonest and mendacious are roughly equivalent. However, dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

In what contexts can untruthful take the place of mendacious?

The meanings of untruthful and mendacious largely overlap; however, untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

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 mendacious President Trump is mendacious, vengeful, and unscrupulous. Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025 But future generations in China, those not bound by the same baggage as the Xi family, may someday find their voice and want to overturn Mao’s old mendacious order. Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2025 At Comedy Central, Colbert rose to prominence playing a slightly exaggerated version of Bill O’Reilly and other unapologetically mendacious Fox News pundits from the George W. Bush years. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025 The true story reveals both how freedom of speech first came to be conceived of as a mechanism for truth, an antidote to falsehood, and the foundation of all liberty—and that, ironically, this new and powerful theory was itself a deliberately mendacious fiction. Fara Dabhoiwala, Harpers Magazine, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mendacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mendacious
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
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
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
Adjective
  • In his earlier testimony on Thursday morning, Espinoza told Wise County District Attorney James Stainton that Horner had been untruthful throughout the investigative process.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The child abuse pediatrician said the claims in the post, which mirrored those on the fundraising page, were also untruthful.
    Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 1 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
Adjective
  • But that confidence could harbor false hope, says Kelly Richardson, principal of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for offering community association advice, and a monthly contributing writer to the Southern California News Group.
    Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The indictment also charges Meade and West each with one count of conspiracy to obstruct and defeat the Internal Revenue Service, five counts of attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws and seven counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false documents, officials said.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mendacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mendacious. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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