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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 During Trump’s chaotic first presidency, the president himself promoted false claims about COVID-19, climate change and the 2020 election. Seth Ashley, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025 The Texas law and the federal law are directed at false advertising. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025 Lindell was one of the leading promoters of false 2020 election fraud claims. Laura Romero, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025 But on Wednesday, SpaceX dismissed the reporting as false. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for false
Recent Examples of Synonyms for false
Adjective
  • According to the Financial Times, the erroneous internal transfer occurred in April 2024 and was missed by a payments employee and a second official assigned to check the transaction before it was cleared to be processed at the start of business the next day.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Our inquiry to the hospital was due to an erroneous order of a separate inpatient stay request.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • That his faux prayer hardly even touched on the show’s nominees didn’t prevent it whatsoever from killing.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But the biggest changes can be found at the back of the car, where the rear end has been outfitted with a pair of vertical stabilizers and a set of faux afterburners and missiles.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • What to know about counterfeit stamps In fiscal year 2024, 90% of items violating Intellectual Property Right laws seized by CBP came from China and Hong Kong, CBP officials said.
    Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
  • More than 161,000 counterfeit U.S. Forever stamps from China were recently seized in Chicago, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Thursday.
    Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Athletic's college football reporters conducted a mock draft, which had the Titans taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
    Nate Rau, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
  • There already have been a deluge of mock drafts and prospect rankings.
    Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The suit alleges that employees at the Novato branch were incentivized not to do anything to stop PFI’s fraudulent activity.
    Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • It is intended to streamline the removal of individuals deemed inadmissible under specific grounds, primarily for lacking proper documentation or for using fraudulent means to enter the country.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But what will their first move as a traitorous duo be?
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The blame for this terrifying scenario, McCarthy declared, rested with traitorous federal employees, who had sold their country out and had to be purged from its service.
    Made by History, TIME, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Though Google made fixes to address some of the most absurd answers, AI Overview still occasionally presents inaccurate information.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Improper payments happen when the agency either overpays or underpays benefits due to inaccurate information.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The products allegedly use synthetic ingredients such as parabens and sulfates.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The sculpted bamboo details are actually rust-resistant aluminum, while the tabletop, seats, and seatbacks are upholstered in a synthetic, rattan-like weave that’s more durable than natural caning.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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