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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 One of the things your piece says is that, essentially for the entire duration of the war, there’ve been false warnings about a hunger crisis. Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 July 2025 Israel, which blocked aid to Gaza earlier this year, has recently begun to airdrop aid resources into the region, and its leaders argue reports of starvation are a false campaign promoted by Hamas. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025 He’s hosted several world leaders for explosive Oval Office sit downs, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who Trump argued with over false claims that white farmers in the country were victims of a genocide, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 In November 2009, Richard pleaded guilty to the latter charge, while Mayumi pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to authorities, per CNN. EW.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • The latest erroneous metaphor is that our brains are like AI systems.
    Iddo Gefen, Twin Cities, 16 July 2025
  • The amount a state owes would be based on a formula set by the percentage of erroneous payments reported each year.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Morrow wore all Coach: a faux fur cheetah coat with mom-style denim jeans and a black leather bustier top.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 July 2025
  • With six colors to choose from, this luxe faux leather passport holder may just become your new favorite travel accessory.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) wants the Trump administration to crack down on counterfeit risks posed by domestic entities.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 18 July 2025
  • Fake websites, impersonator accounts and counterfeit listings can erode trust quickly, and often without warning.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • The analytics department had built a mock draft simulator to get a feel for how the board might shake out before the Panthers selected at their No. 57 spot.
    Mike Kaye July 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2025
  • In early March, the command's fighter jets and a U.S. bomber carried out a mock interception over Alaska, showcasing its ability to defend the continent at a moment's notice.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • About 86% of the fraudulent claims for Medicare happened from December 2017 on.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
  • An Arizona woman has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for her role in a fraudulent scheme that helped North Koreans obtain remote IT positions at 309 US companies, including an unnamed member of the Fortune 500.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 26 July 2025
Adjective
  • There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 July 2025
  • Michael Fassbender plays a British intelligence officer tasked with finding who leaked a top-secret software program and betrayed their country, and the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes his own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • The central bank, under intense scrutiny from President Donald Trump and his allies, is quietly trying to mitigate any potentially inaccurate claims and attacks stemming from Trump’s upcoming Thursday afternoon tour of the Fed’s renovation site at its headquarters facing the National Mall.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
  • Former fourth-round pick Javon Baker did not reel in either of his two targets, both inaccurate passes from Dobbs.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • The deadly synthetic opioid has been covered in books and research papers and articles, including many published by inewsource, the nonprofit San Diego newsroom where Self is the managing editor.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025
  • The push for tools to address overdoses has taken on more urgency as deaths from synthetic opioids have skyrocketed in Texas and across the U.S. Fentanyl was identified as the likely cause of a surge of 79 overdoses in Austin last spring, which killed nine people.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

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