fibbed
Stretched the truth
Fibbed is the past tense of fib, meaning told a small or harmless lie.
A fib is a minor untruth, often told to avoid awkwardness or spare feelings rather than for serious deception: She fibbed about liking the gift.
The word carries less moral weight than lied.
Told a falsehood
- deceivedMisled into false belief
- misledCaused to believe falsely
- fabricatedInvented, not real
- falsifiedMade deliberately inaccurate
misrepresented · distorted · invented · made up · concocted · pretended · bluffed · faked
Harmless minor falsehood
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- overstatementClaim beyond the facts
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
stretching the truth · half-truth · tall tale · whopper · untruth · misstatement · inaccuracy · polite fiction
Admission of wrongdoing
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
apology · caught · admitted · conscience · guilty · embarrassed · sheepish · red-faced
Interlocking digit oath
- crossed fingersSuperstitious hope gesture
- PinocchioLying wooden puppet
- playgroundChildren's outdoor recreation space
- schoolyardOutdoor area at school
tattle · told on · naughty · mischief · excuse · alibi · cover story · pretend
lied
Told a falsehood
- deceivedMisled into false belief
- misledCaused to believe falsely
- fabricatedInvented, not real
falsified · misrepresented · distorted · invented · made up · concocted · pretended · bluffed · faked · feigned
white lie
Harmless minor falsehood
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- overstatementClaim beyond the facts
understatement · stretching the truth · half-truth · tall tale · whopper · untruth · misstatement · inaccuracy · polite fiction · bending the truth
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
contrition · apology · caught · admitted · conscience · guilty · embarrassed · sheepish · red-faced · fessed up
pinky promise
Interlocking digit oath
- crossed fingersSuperstitious hope gesture
- PinocchioLying wooden puppet
- playgroundChildren's outdoor recreation space
schoolyard · tattle · told on · naughty · mischief · excuse · alibi · cover story · pretend · imagination