bear false witness
Testify with lies
To bear false witness is to lie, especially in formal or serious contexts—testimony, accusations, or statements that could harm someone.
The phrase comes from the Ten Commandments' prohibition against perjury and has retained a biblical or legalistic tone: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
It implies deliberate deception rather than honest error.
Give sworn evidence
- oathFormal binding promise
- swornBound by formal promise
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- affidavitSworn written statement
trial · perjurer · subornation · depose · cross-examination · evidence · indictment · prosecution
Deliberate falsehood
- fabricateInvent or manufacture
- deceiveCause false belief
- misleadCause false belief
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
prevaricate · dissemble · equivocate · distort · misinform · feign · hoodwink · dupe
testify
Give sworn evidence
affidavit · trial · perjurer · subornation · depose · cross-examination · evidence · indictment · prosecution · subpoena
lie
Deliberate falsehood
misrepresent · prevaricate · dissemble · equivocate · distort · misinform · feign · hoodwink · dupe · manipulate
slander
Spoken false defamation
smear · malign · calumny · aspersion · vilify · besmirch · traduce · character assassination · reputation · impugn
Judas
Archetypal betrayer name
double-cross · informant · rat · fink · turncoat · snitch · disloyalty · sellout · quisling · collaborator
- commandmentsTen Commandments, no other gods, honor thy parents, honor parents, no stealing