fibs
Harmless little untruths
Fibs are small, harmless lies—the kind told to avoid minor embarrassment or spare someone's feelings.
A fib lacks the moral weight of a serious deception: I told a little fib about why I was late.
To fib is to tell such lies.
The term is often used with children, treating their untruths as innocent rather than wicked.
Deliberate untruths
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
deceit · prevarication · misrepresentation · distortion · half-truths · equivocation · dissembling · duplicity
Decorative addition or exaggeration
- overstatementClaim beyond the facts
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- inflationSustained price level increase
elaboration · dramatization · fish stories · tall tales · bluster · boasting · bragging · puffery
Fantastical exaggerated stories
- whoppersOutlandish untruths
- make-believeImaginative play or fantasy
- pretendAct as though
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
yarns · fantasy · invention · imagination · playful · innocent · mischief · excuses
Minor benevolent deceptions
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- tactSensitivity in speech
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
compliments · excuses · face-saving · harmless · well-intentioned · kindness · smoothing over · awkwardness
lies
Deliberate untruths
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthA false statement
fabrication · deceit · prevarication · misrepresentation · distortion · half-truths · equivocation · dissembling · duplicity · insincerity
embellishment
Decorative addition or exaggeration
- overstatementClaim beyond the facts
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
inflation · elaboration · dramatization · fish stories · tall tales · bluster · boasting · bragging · puffery · spin
tall tales
Fantastical exaggerated stories
- whoppersOutlandish untruths
- make-believeImaginative play or fantasy
- pretendAct as though
storytelling · yarns · fantasy · invention · imagination · playful · innocent · mischief · excuses · cover-ups
white lies
Minor benevolent deceptions
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- tactSensitivity in speech
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
flattery · compliments · excuses · face-saving · harmless · well-intentioned · kindness · smoothing over · awkwardness · fine thanks