untruth
What liars tell
An untruth is a statement that isn't true—a lie or falsehood.
The word sounds slightly formal or euphemistic, often used when "lie" feels too blunt: The report contained several untruths.
Untruth can also mean the quality of being false: the untruth of his claims.
Trivial, harmless falsehood
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- whopperOutsized thing or untruth
- tall taleWildly exaggerated story
white lie · prevarication · misstatement · canard · story · invention · exaggeration · mendacity
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- spinRapid rotation around axis
distortion · falsification · misreporting · slander · defamation · smear · conspiracy theory · slant
Traditional explanatory tale
- fableMoral tale with animals
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- inventionNew device or method
- taleSpoken or written narrative
fabrication · make-believe · figment · unreality · concoction · fairy tale · yarn · tall story
Deliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- shamFraudulent imitation
trickery · ruse · subterfuge · duplicity · guile · artifice · chicanery · imposture
Deceptive outward appearance
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- guiseExternal manner shown
- veneerDecorative outer layer
- simulationImitation of real processes
feigning · affectation · pose · front · act · bluff · show · insincerity
Fault in communication
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
misbelief · false assumption · sophistry · non sequitur · strawman · red herring · bias · prejudice
fib
Trivial, harmless falsehood
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- whopperOutsized thing or untruth
tall tale · white lie · prevarication · misstatement · canard · story · invention · exaggeration · mendacity · distortion
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
spin · distortion · falsification · misreporting · slander · defamation · smear · conspiracy theory · slant · myth
myth
Traditional explanatory tale
tale · fabrication · make-believe · figment · unreality · concoction · fairy tale · yarn · tall story · legend
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
sham · trickery · ruse · subterfuge · duplicity · guile · artifice · chicanery · imposture · swindle
facade
Deceptive outward appearance
simulation · feigning · affectation · pose · front · act · bluff · show · insincerity · hypocrisy
error
Fault in communication
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
illusion · misbelief · false assumption · sophistry · non sequitur · strawman · red herring · bias · prejudice · inconsistency
untruthnon-fiction
Writing about real things
documentary · true story · historical record · reportage · journalism