as in dishonest
telling or containing lies
that lying son of a gun told me that the used car had never been in an accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in deception
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in deceiving
to make a statement one knows to be untrue
would I lie to you about that?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in sitting
to occupy a place or location
I left the book lying on the counter
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in hiding
to remain out of sight
paparazzi were lying in wait outside the restaurant, a well-known celebrity hangout
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lying
Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Huang throws the first group dinner of the series and, when confronted with both the rumors and the lying, quits on the spot.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
And honesty will get you far in life and lying is not fun.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The definition of a lying, scumbag politician –– that is you.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2026
Among the many rules at Augusta National — no cell phones, no booing, no lying in the grass — patrons are not allowed to run.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
At the very least, the definition of lying must include speaking with the aim of causing one’s audience to adopt a falsehood.
—Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
To understand whether coffin-lying can actually boost calmness and relieve stress, Outside spoke to two therapists.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026
Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 May 2026
OpenAI is already in a legal battle with its estranged cofounder Elon Musk, in which CEO Sam Altman was accused of lying about his plans for the company; the judge heard closing arguments yesterday.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 May 2026
Most people know the experience of lying awake at night while their mind compulsively replays their old mistakes, awkward conversations or humiliating moments.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Earlier this week Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said his government had no knowledge of the offer and accused Rubio of lying.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
In another case, a witness described discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying beside the body of a woman holding them, in what the report described as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
But the 25-year-old looked very bright when asked to play in a challenging, deep-lying midfield role off the bench against Brentford on Saturday and that is what he was asked to do from the off against Palace.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Every Southerner has a recipe for sausage balls lying around, and this quick recipe is always welcome at church gatherings.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Hill, the former court clerk, pleads guilty to obstruction of justice and perjury, for providing access to graphic photographs from Murdaugh's case and lying about it.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 13 May 2026
Adjective
He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
—Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Noun
His lying has finally caught up with him.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Huang throws the first group dinner of the series and, when confronted with both the rumors and the lying, quits on the spot.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
And honesty will get you far in life and lying is not fun.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The definition of a lying, scumbag politician –– that is you.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2026
Among the many rules at Augusta National — no cell phones, no booing, no lying in the grass — patrons are not allowed to run.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
At the very least, the definition of lying must include speaking with the aim of causing one’s audience to adopt a falsehood.
—Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
To understand whether coffin-lying can actually boost calmness and relieve stress, Outside spoke to two therapists.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
Nymphal Deer ticks, which hatched from last year's eggs and spent the winter lying dormant under leaf litter, emerge en masse in June.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 May 2026
OpenAI is already in a legal battle with its estranged cofounder Elon Musk, in which CEO Sam Altman was accused of lying about his plans for the company; the judge heard closing arguments yesterday.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 May 2026
Most people know the experience of lying awake at night while their mind compulsively replays their old mistakes, awkward conversations or humiliating moments.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Earlier this week Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said his government had no knowledge of the offer and accused Rubio of lying.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
In another case, a witness described discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying beside the body of a woman holding them, in what the report described as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
But the 25-year-old looked very bright when asked to play in a challenging, deep-lying midfield role off the bench against Brentford on Saturday and that is what he was asked to do from the off against Palace.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Every Southerner has a recipe for sausage balls lying around, and this quick recipe is always welcome at church gatherings.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Hill, the former court clerk, pleads guilty to obstruction of justice and perjury, for providing access to graphic photographs from Murdaugh's case and lying about it.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lying
Adjective
-
The business world will likely never be without people who are dishonest and lack integrity, but ethics and moral integrity are still important.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
The election took place amid a surge in violent crime and corruption that has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Widespread deception was rampant, with businesses spending far more on green marketing than on actual sustainability improvements.—
Suvrat Dhanorkar,
The Conversation,
18 May 2026
-
That, along with the angle of his arm—his arm slot, in baseball terms—adds another layer of deception.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Donovan Mitchell, whose box score of 21 points was deceiving, dribbled aimlessly while being hounded by Detroit defenders until his weak shot attempt was easily knocked away by Ausar Thompson before time expired.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Both teams were shorthanded, as Indiana star Aliyah Boston missed her first WNBA game due to a lower right leg injury, and Storm forward and leading scorer Dominique Malonga missed her first game this season due to a concussion.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
The leading 10 players come from seven countries, four of them major champions.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Turning my head, sitting, breathing—they all were accompanied by lightning strikes diffused through my body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Whether you’re gone for a long weekend or for a few months, overflowing mail can signal to burglars that your home is sitting empty.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Dodge County District Attorney’s Office also formally charged Aaron with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse, the sheriff’s office said.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
The companies submitted the request Monday after a criminal indictment accused the operator, Synergy Marine Private Limited, and an employee of failing to comply with maritime safety laws, falsifying inspections, and hiding dangerous conditions on the ship.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Martin suggested that other Republicans are circulating equally misleading mailers, but that the party is targeting DeMaio.—
Andrew Graham
May 15,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
-
The show has already done these misleading posters, including one where Homelander floats in space, watching nukes go off on Earth below.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
This week, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi gave a master class in obfuscation, prevarication, and pettiness.—
John Ficarra,
Air Mail,
11 Oct. 2025
-
There was no picture, there was no drawing, there has been so many lies, so much prevarication, so much cover up.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lying. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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