half-truths
Deliberately incomplete statements
Half-truths are statements that mix truth with omission or distortion, creating a misleading impression while remaining technically defensible.
More insidious than outright lies because they're harder to refute: The ad was full of half-truths designed to make the product seem safer than it was.
A half-truth might state accurate facts while omitting crucial context, or emphasize one aspect while hiding another.
Causing false beliefs
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- distortionTwisting from original state
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
fabrication · falsehood · prevarication · deceit · disinformation · white lie · lie · falsity
Keeping from another
- selectiveChoosing with care
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- partialFavoring one side
- unstatedNot openly expressed
gaps · silence · exclusion · redacted · unrevealed · unsaid · untold · suppressed
Rotating motion or surprise
- slantOblique angle or bias
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- distortTwist from original form
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
influence · persuade · sway · framing · gaslighting · scheming · misdirection · deflection
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- warinessCautious distrust
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
disbelief · questioning · scrutiny · misgivings · doubt · incredulity · guarded · wary
Prepared discussion themes
- damage controlLimiting further harm
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- plausible deniabilityArranged protection from accountability
- doublespeakDeliberately misleading language
press release · diplomatic language · euphemism · messaging · soundbite · whitewashing · revisionism
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- distortionTwisting from original state
- spinRapid rotation around axis
exaggeration · fabrication · falsehood · prevarication · deceit · disinformation · white lie · lie · falsity · fib
withholding
Keeping from another
- selectiveChoosing with care
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- partialFavoring one side
unstated · gaps · silence · exclusion · redacted · unrevealed · unsaid · untold · suppressed · concealment
twist
Rotating motion or surprise
misrepresent · influence · persuade · sway · framing · gaslighting · scheming · misdirection · deflection · obfuscation
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- warinessCautious distrust
cynicism · disbelief · questioning · scrutiny · misgivings · doubt · incredulity · guarded · wary · credibility gap
talking points
Prepared discussion themes
- damage controlLimiting further harm
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- plausible deniabilityArranged protection from accountability
doublespeak · press release · diplomatic language · euphemism · messaging · soundbite · whitewashing · revisionism
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- falsehoodslie, lies, lying, fib, fibbing
- Hidden Truthssecrets, lies, cover-ups, deception, mysteries
- honestyhonesty, candor, sincerity, dishonesty, frankness
- insincerityinsincerity, phoniness, fakeness, falseness, pretense
half-truthsthe whole truth
full disclosure · unvarnished truth · plain truth · whole truth · naked truth
half-truthscandor
Unguarded truthfulness
honesty · forthrightness · straight talk · frankness · openness
truth, half, truthful, untruth, truthfulness, untruthful, truthfully, untruthfulness, untruthfully