belie

Meaning

1. To tell lies about.
2. To give a false representation of.
3. To contradict, to show (something) to be false.
4. To call a liar; to accuse of falsehood.
5. To fill with lies; to lie to.
6. To conceal the contradictory or ironic presence of (something).
7. To show, evince or demonstrate (something) to be present, particularly something deemed contradictory or ironic.
8. (obsolete) To mimic; to counterfeit.

Concepts

belie

contradict

misrepresent

negate

abjure

deny

retract

misrepresentation

disguise

slander

calumniate

contort

distort

garble

pervert

twist

warp

wrench

defeat

gainsay

refute

impose upon

conflict

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈlaɪ/

Etymology

From Middle English belyen, beleoȝen, from Old English belēogan (“to deceive by lying, be mistaken”), from Proto-West Germanic *bileugan (“to belie”). Equivalent to be- (“about”) + lie (“to deceive”). Compare Dutch beliegen (“to lie about, tell lies”), German belügen (“to lie to someone”).