falsehood

noun

false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce falsehood (audio)
Synonyms of falsehoodnext
1
: an untrue statement : lie
spreading falsehoods about his opponent
2
: absence of truth or accuracy
The falsehood of this narrative made it no less effective.—Peniel E. Joseph
3
: the practice of lying : mendacity
… Thomas Jefferson … accused the press of engaging in "falsehood and defamation" while covering his administration.—Albert R. Hunt

Synonyms of falsehood

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Examples of falsehood in a Sentence

the line between truth and falsehood the possibility of a perpetual motion machine is one falsehood that has been disproved by modern physics
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Another example of say anything, even falsehoods, to get elected. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 Getty Images As wildfires sweep Europe and North America, falsehoods about their causes and the nature of climate change are spreading like, well, wildfire. — David Vetter, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 But of the many falsehoods told by them, there was one which quite amazed me. — Agnes Callard, The New York Review of Books, 18 Aug. 2026 In a June poll, KFF asked whether respondents believed in four vaccine falsehoods. — Katrine Wallace, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for falsehood

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of falsehood was in the 13th century

Rhymes for falsehood

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Browse Nearby Words

false hemp
falsehood
false hoof
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Cite this Entry

“Falsehood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/falsehood. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

falsehood

noun
false·​hood ˈfȯls-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce falsehood (audio)
1
: an untrue statement : lie
2
: the habit of lying
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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