half truth
Deliberately incomplete statement
A half truth is a statement that includes some truth but omits crucial information or context, making it effectively deceptive.
Unlike outright lies, half truths are harder to challenge because they contain verifiable facts: The ad was technically accurate but a half truth—it mentioned the drug's benefits while burying the side effects.
Also spelled half-truth.
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- white lieHarmless minor falsehood
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- cognitive biasSystematic deviation from rationality
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
deception · omission · equivocation · fallacy · dishonesty · spin · spin doctor · euphemism · ambiguity · rationalization · manipulation · integrity · framing effect · trust · narrative control · plausible deniability · subjective interpretation · confirmation bias
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- truthsfacts, fact, reality, verity, verities
- miscommunicationmix-up, mixed signals, confusion, mixed messages, crossed wires
- Candor Phrasesto be honest, honestly, frankly, speaking frankly, if i'm being honest
- fallaciesstraw man, red herring, circular reasoning, ad hominem, fallacy
half truthwhole truth
Complete, unvarnished account
unvarnished truth · naked truth · plain truth · full disclosure · gospel truth
half truthwhopper
Outsized thing or untruth
bald-faced lie · full disclosure · straight talk · forthrightness · truthfulness
half, truth, halve, halves, halved, halving, halfway, halfhearted, truths