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false
[ fawls ]
adjective
- not true or correct; erroneous:
a false statement.
Synonyms: , , ,
- uttering or declaring what is untrue:
a false witness.
Synonyms: , ,
- not faithful or loyal; treacherous:
a false friend.
Synonyms: , , , , , , ,
- tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive:
a false impression.
Synonyms: ,
- not genuine; counterfeit.
Synonyms: , ,
- based on mistaken, erroneous, or inconsistent impressions, ideas, or facts:
false pride.
- used as a substitute or supplement, especially temporarily:
false supports for a bridge.
- Biology. having a superficial resemblance to something that properly bears the name:
the false acacia.
- not properly, accurately, or honestly made, done, or adjusted:
a false balance.
- inaccurate in pitch, as a musical note.
adverb
- dishonestly; faithlessly; treacherously:
Did he speak false against me?
false
/ ɔː /
adjective
- not in accordance with the truth or facts
- irregular or invalid
a false start
- untruthful or lying
a false account
- not genuine, real, or natural; artificial; fake
false eyelashes
- being or intended to be misleading or deceptive
a false rumour
- disloyal or treacherous
a false friend
- based on mistaken or irrelevant ideas or facts
a false argument
false pride
- prenominal (esp of plants) superficially resembling the species specified
false hellebore
- serving to supplement or replace, often temporarily
a false keel
- music
- (of a note, interval, etc) out of tune
- (of the interval of a perfect fourth or fifth) decreased by a semitone
- (of a cadence) interrupted or imperfect
adverb
- in a false or dishonest manner (esp in the phrase play ( someone ) false )
Derived Forms
- ˈڲ, adverb
- ˈڲԱ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ڲl adverb
- ڲn noun
- -ڲ adjective
- ܲȴ-ڲ adjective
- quasi-ڲl adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of false1
Word History and Origins
Origin of false1
Idioms and Phrases
- play someone false, to betray someone; be treacherous or faithless.
More idioms and phrases containing false
- lull into (false sense of security)
- play false
- ring false
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Tarar said that India intends to use the attack as a "false pretext" for a strike and that "any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively".
The two former security officials, Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor, had spoken out against Trump's false claims of a stolen election in 2020.
He also "ferreted about" in a "deception" to obtain false "dodgy" quotes to help the firm get the lucrative business.
He was able to indulge his passion for sailing – having created a false ID, only returning last April after he'd run out of money.
About 6,000 drug tests are believed to have generated false positive results in 2024, according to attorneys at UnCommon Law, a nonprofit advocacy group that represents inmates seeking parole.
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Related Words
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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