Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective untruthful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of untruthful are deceitful, dishonest, and mendacious. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

When is deceitful a more appropriate choice than untruthful?

The words deceitful and untruthful 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 would dishonest be a good substitute for untruthful?

While the synonyms dishonest and untruthful are close in meaning, dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

When might mendacious be a better fit than untruthful?

While in some cases nearly identical to untruthful, 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

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 untruthful What is more untruthful: A thing written down, or a sustained deception of the heart? Nicolette Polek, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024 On Wednesday, the defense attacked Marquez’s credibility, questioning his motives for cooperating with the FBI and grilling him over episodes in his background that might paint him as untruthful. Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2024 However, Miranda, Assad, and Arroyo routinely failed in their obligations to cooperate with the investigation by delaying responses, refusing to provide certain information or documents, and providing inconsistent or untruthful responses. Chris Deubert, Forbes, 19 Nov. 2024 Phelan, largely brushing off Covey's attacks as politically motivated and untruthful, has stuck to his reputation of having represented the district through several election cycles, running unopposed over the past several, and his work to advance border security legislation and funding last year. Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 20 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for untruthful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untruthful
Adjective
  • The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
  • About 60 of those were licensed using the erroneous measurement system, mostly in New York City, plus around another 40 that have licenses but are yet to open their doors.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The president has also made inaccurate statements about certain BLS records.
    Isabella Murray, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The White House defended the president’s decision, suggesting the employment numbers and the downward revisions of the past two months were inaccurate.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • At the heart of Trump’s complaints is a familiar refrain: The media is not only biased, but dishonest, corrupt and dangerous.
    Stephanie A, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Writing faculty have both the agency and the academic freedom to examine generative AI’s dishonest training origins and conclude: There is no path to ethically teach AI skills.
    Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • One persistent issue is hallucinations, where the AI fabricates information that may seem plausible but is factually incorrect.
    Sameer Ather, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The Directors Guild of America has advised its members that the WGA’s position is incorrect, and that they may be contractually obligated to perform such activities during a strike.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
Adjective
  • In other words, National Geographic was both right — and wrong.
    Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
  • And if something goes really, really wrong, Miguel and I will head directly to the airport and take the next flight out.
    Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Fleeing from violence and a dark history, a man adopts a false identity looking to start over in the idyllic Canary Islands' town of Arcadia, where a new love interest could change his life — if his past doesn't come back to haunt him.
    Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Newsom's $787 million suit seeks the same amount as the 2023 settlement Fox reached with Dominion Voting Systems after the voting machine company accused Fox News of knowingly pushing false conspiracy theories that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election in Joe Biden's favor.
    Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Untruthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untruthful. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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