mistruth
Statement lacking veracity
A mistruth is a false statement, often one that sounds softer than calling it a lie.
The word suggests deliberate deception dressed in polite clothing: The senator's testimony was riddled with mistruths.
It functions as a euphemism, allowing speakers to accuse someone of dishonesty without the bluntness of "lie."
Trivial, harmless falsehood
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
- falsityState of being incorrect
prevarication · distortion · misrepresentation · fabrication · whopper · tall-tale · canard · falsification
Deliberate misleading of others
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
trickery · misleading · misdirection · obfuscation · concealment · evasion · spin · coverup
Rapid rotation around axis
- misrememberingInaccurate mental retrieval
- misspeakingErring in speech
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
sanitization · whitewashing · sugarcoating · downplaying · softening · hedging
fib
Trivial, harmless falsehood
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- misstatementIncorrect assertion of fact
falsity · prevarication · distortion · misrepresentation · fabrication · whopper · tall-tale · canard · falsification · mendacity
deceit
Deliberate misleading of others
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
subterfuge · trickery · misleading · misdirection · obfuscation · concealment · evasion · spin · coverup · double-talk
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- misrememberingInaccurate mental retrieval
- misspeakingErring in speech
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
embellishment · sanitization · whitewashing · sugarcoating · downplaying · softening · hedging
- misinformationmisinformation, disinformation, fake news, falsehoods, hoaxes
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
mistruthcandor
Unguarded truthfulness
honesty · truthfulness · sincerity · forthrightness · frankness