half-truth

noun

Definition of half-truthnext
as in lie
a statement that is only partly true and that is intended to deceive people I'm tired of all these half-truths—I want to know the real story.

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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 half-truth This statement, which is repeated like a mantra in countless spaces, is only a half-truth. — Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 This is a dangerous half-truth. — Randy Niemeyer, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 Don’t settle for half-truths; seek meaningful joy. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026 Some information is useful, some is harmful and some are half-truths that can cost you real money. — Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for half-truth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for half-truth
  1. lie
  2. tale
  3. story
Noun
  • The airline unveiled new business-class seats for its Airbus A321XLR fleet, including lie-flat beds and privacy doors.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The film follows an 11-year-old boy who exploits his brother’s tragic death to fight his father and his community, until his lies expose the hypocrisy and corruption beneath a seemingly moral society.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of lie
Noun
  • Set in 1964 and based on a true story, the film tells the tale of a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in New York and befriends the suspect’s charming wife.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Like James himself, the men are clever and bookish, writing letters or diaries, reading voraciously, and imagining themselves into tales of romance and Biblical comeuppance.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • Like all other alumni interviewed for this story, one of the first things Oberlander mentioned about her love for Killian was athletics — football games in particular.
    — Austin Horn August 29, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Your stories are a great reminder of what sports teaches high school students about life.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of story

Browse Nearby Words

half-pints
half-truth
half-truths
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half-truth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half-truth. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on half-truth

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about half-truth

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