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as in fraudulent
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value false advertising that claimed that the vegetables were organically grown when they weren't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word false different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of false are disloyal, faithless, perfidious, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

When is disloyal a more appropriate choice than false?

Although the words disloyal and false have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

When is it sensible to use faithless instead of false?

The words faithless and false can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

How are the words perfidious and faithless related as synonyms of false?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

Where would traitorous be a reasonable alternative to false?

In some situations, the words traitorous and false are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

When can treacherous be used instead of false?

The synonyms treacherous and false are sometimes interchangeable, but treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

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 false News to Know McAfee addresses Cornett situation ESPN personality Pat McAfee referenced the case of Mary Kate Cornett yesterday, his first public comments after amplifying a false claim about her weeks ago. Chris Branch, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 The politics , the lies and false narratives finally got me! Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Corporate grocery conglomerates and their lobbyists — who have defeated similar efforts across the country — are resorting to false claims and fear-mongering in hopes of unwinding our progress. Sean Elo-Rivera, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025 Misleading real or generated images can make false claims seem more believable and even cause people to misremember real events. Arryn Robbins, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • For generations, his grave has been marked by an erroneous headstone with a Latin cross, not a Star of David, something Eiferman learned only recently.
    Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
  • But Trump sees trade deficits as America getting ripped off, which is erroneous.
    Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Roughly 1,600 square feet includes just one bedroom—a primary suite with a faux living wall and access to a wraparound balcony—but the open-plan great room comes with a handy Murphy bed for guests.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Both the Oppo Find X6 Ultra and Find X7 Ultra had a dual-tone finish where half the phone featured a faux leather back.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In Asia, a shadow trade war has long been fought in China over intellectual property—mainly counterfeit goods like putting a Blackhawks logo on an unauthorized cap.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Image Beware of counterfeit eclipse glasses and solar viewers.
    Katrina Miller, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Here’s our latest projections, in the Star-Telegram’s mock draft 2.0: FIRST ROUND 1.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Most recent mock drafts are also split between an offensive lineman or cornerback Will Johnson from Michigan.
    Jim Sergent, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Ask if there was any suspicious account activity, such as a login from a new device, before the fraudulent charges occurred.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Barker and the business owner — who pleaded guilty in February on charges in a separate indictment — agreed to deduct the true cost of the supplies from the fraudulent invoices and split the rest between them, according to the indictment.
    Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Foreign military interventions can change victims from being viewed as a nuisance into being seen as powerful and traitorous enemies, potentially capable of exacting revenge, seizing power, or breaking away from the state.
    Benjamin A. Valentino, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2011
  • But what will their first move as a traitorous duo be?
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Sometimes the results are inaccurate, generated by AI hallucinations – responses AI systems produce that sound convincing but are incorrect, made up or irrelevant.
    Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Speaking with the New York Times, Jesuit expert Rev. Thomas J. Reese cited the layout of tables inside the Sistine Chapel, as well as the color of the carpet, to be inaccurate.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Consumers with allergies to synthetic food dyes are advised to monitor recall databases and carefully examine product labels.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The Indianapolis facility includes a manufacturing plant that will begin producing drugs in 2026 and a site that represents the largest investment to make active pharmaceutical ingredients for synthetic medicines in the country's history.
    Alice Park, Time, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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