Katherine T. KinkeadAmerican Guide Series: Pennsylvania
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"What is a lie?" asks Lord Byron in Don Juan. He then answers himself: "'Tis but the truth in masquerade...." The history of belie illustrates a certain connection between lying and masquerading as something other than one is. In Old English, belie meant "to deceive by lying," but in time, it came to mean "to tell lies about," taking on a sense similar to that of the modern word slander. Eventually, its meaning softened, shifting from an act of outright lying to one of mere misrepresentation; by the 1700s, the word was being used in the sense "to disguise or conceal." Nowadays, belie is typically applied when someone or something gives an impression that is in disagreement with the facts, rather than in contexts where there is an intentional untruth. A happy face put on to set others at ease, for example, may belie an internal disgruntlement.
Examples of belie in a Sentence
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Tall, thoughtful and calm, Acker’s nature belies the turbulence and emotion of his art.
—Paul Hodgins, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Gabrielle’s unflinching competence and dynamism belie acute sensitivity, and the actress allows hints of child-like hurt and hesitation to pierce the carapace.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Starring opposite Renate Reinsve, Stan once again plunges into a risky, thorny role with a look that belies his MCU star status.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for belie
Cite this Entry
“Belie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belie. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
belie
verb
