belie

Meaning

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

Synonyms

contradict

abjure

deny

misrepresent

negate

retract

disguise

distort

gainsay

garble

impose upon

warp

misrepresentation

wrench

🔧

pervert

refute

conflict

slander

contort

calumniate

defeat

twist

Translations

desmentir

διαστρέφω

desmentir

démentir

διαψεύδω

lügen

representar mal

yalanlamak

ξεγελώ

widerlegen

ناقض

smentire

tergiversar

شوه

desfigurar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈlaɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: belyen

Inherited from Old English: belēogan

Cognate with Dutch: beliegen

Cognate with German: belügen

In summary

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”).