1
as in misrepresenting
to give a misleading impression of
his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refuting
to prove to be false
the latest information belies the old theory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscuring
to keep secret or shut off from view
the security council issued false assurances that belied the true gravity of the situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belying
Saura had a large sense of the humor, which struck those who got to know him, belying the sternness of his public visage with his playful banter and frequent chuckle.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
The show’s postcard-ready shots of the northern countryside, with its verdant hills and winding roads, are another incongruity, belying the challenges of survival there for those on the fringes.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Inside, its luxurious custom leather seats and carbon fiber trim transform the Shelby into a quality cabin belying its F-150 roots.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
On an unremarkable clay tennis court in the Spanish city of Alicante, watched on by only a handful of spectators, two teenagers swipe the ball to one another with surprising vigor, belying their scrawny, adolescent frames.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Henry communicates the weight of Ray’s past with a flicker in his gaze and a shadow that falls over his face, belying the easy confidence established by the character’s introduction.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025
Adem Zorgane has long been a statistical anomaly in Belgian football, his incredible passing numbers belying his position at the heart of a distinctly mid-table side.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
The show’s postcard-ready shots of the northern countryside, with its verdant hills and winding roads, are another incongruity, belying the challenges of survival there for those on the fringes.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Inside, its luxurious custom leather seats and carbon fiber trim transform the Shelby into a quality cabin belying its F-150 roots.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
On an unremarkable clay tennis court in the Spanish city of Alicante, watched on by only a handful of spectators, two teenagers swipe the ball to one another with surprising vigor, belying their scrawny, adolescent frames.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Henry communicates the weight of Ray’s past with a flicker in his gaze and a shadow that falls over his face, belying the easy confidence established by the character’s introduction.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025
Adem Zorgane has long been a statistical anomaly in Belgian football, his incredible passing numbers belying his position at the heart of a distinctly mid-table side.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belying
Verb
-
Husted accused Schumer of misrepresenting how the mail-in ballot process would work.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The attorneys accuse the comptroller of violating client-attorney trust and misrepresenting the attorneys’ work to the public.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Late in the evening, the sheriff's office posted that no injuries or deaths had been reported from the storm, refuting social media rumors.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But the company is refuting the claims.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The rise of high-frequency trading convinced us that everything is priced in instantly, obscuring pockets of friction.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Sheets appear to be covering the front cockpit window, obscuring what would normally be the pilots’ forward view.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The justices sided with the parents suing over the California policy of concealing children’s gender transitions, which the school facilitates, from parents.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Forcibly disappearing people has long been a tactic by cartels to consolidate control through terror while also concealing homicide numbers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That is why the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs brought an immediate sense of relief.—
Serena Sato,
Baltimore Sun,
31 Mar. 2026
-
It's become a cornerstone of public school policy nationwide, but is being called into question again, and, with a stronger conservative majority on the Court than in 1982, overturning the ruling could radically reshape public education.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under her tenure, the Department has lost centuries of professional experience, willfully violated federal law and judicial orders alike, while at the same time, hiding millions of documents linked to the Epstein files in a massive cover-up.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Grass lines in 8 to 15 feet of water make a perfect location for ambushing their prey and hiding from other predatory fish like muskies.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Combined, the payouts to the two Brooklyn exonerees — covering a collective 40-plus years behind bars — were less than what Chicago would end up paying for Sierra’s 22 years’ imprisonment.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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With the base loaded and one out, Los Alamitos popped up a bunt that third baseman Kimmie McDonnell snagged and alertly tossed to shortstop Mazzotti covering third base for an inning-ending double play.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In response, agents began disguising their faces with masks.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But there’s no disguising the noise.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belying. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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