lie 1 of 3

lie

2 of 3

verb (2)

1
as in to lead
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the train tracks lie just over that hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to hide
to remain out of sight paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lie

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lie differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lie are equivocate, fib, palter, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

When could equivocate be used to replace lie?

The words equivocate and lie are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

Where would fib be a reasonable alternative to lie?

While in some cases nearly identical to lie, fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

When is it sensible to use palter instead of lie?

While the synonyms palter and lie are close in meaning, palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

How do prevaricate and lie relate to one another?

Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

Examples 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 lie
Verb
Its strength lies in its ability to resurrect Miller’s philosophical questions about life and death, almost as a way to find answers about his own. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025 The former Höss residence lies just feet away from the Auschwitz concentration camp. Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
This six-episode Netflix series is taking on the murky world of health influencer culture—and what happened when a certain real-life influencer’s brand was built on a lie. Charley Ross, Glamour, 15 Jan. 2025 Those who benefit will be the peddlers of lies and provable garbage, on everything from the efficacy of vaccines to the reality of climate change to the basic fact of who won the 2020 election. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for lie 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lie
Noun
  • Not long ago, Mallaby recommended to us a few of the best books about such tales.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The tale of that match has been told a few times in the quarter-century since.
    Jack Lang, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Photograph: Mother Jones illustration; Getty This story originally appeared on Mother Jones and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
    Anna Merlan, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2025
  • For more stories about culture and identity sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at http://KansasCity.com/newsletters.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Grok, xAI's flagship model, has also repeatedly misinterpreted news stories and made up falsehoods in the past.
    Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The company created what has become a standard for how tech platforms limit the spread of falsehoods and misleading information.
    Shannon Bond, NPR, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • These six wooden tiny houses are straight out of a skiing fairy tale: ski right to them at the end of the day, spend the evening in the cozy clubhouse—private just for Constella guests after 2pm—with its central fireplace, bar, and restaurant.
    Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Castles, cottages, and villages from fairy tales like those of the Brother Grimm are re-created at the scale of furniture, sculpted in fortified plasters, wood and metal framing, epoxies, fiberglass, and acrylic paint.
    Natalia Torija, Curbed, 3 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near lie

Cite this Entry

“Lie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lie. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lie

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