BELIED Synonyms: 130 Similar and Opposite Words

belied

verb

past tense of belie

as in misrepresented

to give a misleading impression of his bright smile belied his actual mood, which was really one of great sadness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in refuted

to prove to be false the latest information belies the old theory

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obscured

to keep secret or shut off from view the security council issued false assurances that belied the true gravity of the situation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of belied But this notion that AI data centers are quickly popping up everywhere is belied by the fact that their construction faces massive hurdles – regardless of whether anyone wants them in their backyard or not. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 The lighthearted postgame mood belied what became a tense environment at halftime when Toronto closed the half on a 12-0 run to trail by one point. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026 Day three of Chiefs training camp opened under dour skies and temperate conditions that belied the typical July weather associated with preseason practices in northern Missouri. — Pete Grathoff july 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 For years, Wimbledon has been the one Grand Slam that never quite agreed with Gauff’s all-court game, a stretch that belied her promising breakthrough seven years ago. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 Dorothea centers on a Sacramento woman (Davis) who ran a boarding house for the less fortunate in the 1980s, but her seemingly benevolent actions belied her sinister motives. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 July 2026 Philosophy may be spoken about at a dinner party, but that the content of whatever is said in this line is necessarily belied by the actual fact that the characters, by necessity, are not depicted engaging in the pursuit of wisdom. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 However, this robust growth was belied by declines in median wealth in most of the 56 markets monitored by UBS, pointing to a growing wealth gap. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026 But the quiet belied a simmering conflict over a piece of land long used by nearby PortMiami as a fuel depot. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belied

Verb

The federal case was based on allegations the social media giant misrepresented the extent of child mental health harms caused by apps like Facebook and Instagram.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
That’s especially true for Black communities that have been harmfully misrepresented by mainstream outlets.

— Danielle K. Brown, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of misrepresented

Verb

Many of her photographs were attributed to Capa, which obscured her contribution once Friedmann adopted the name for himself alone.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
In the years since Shakur's murder, what exactly happened in that hail of bullets -- and who pulled the trigger -- was obscured by a lack of physical evidence, feuding cops and the gangland code of silence.

— Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscured

Verb

Under-eye shadows, bags and lower-lid definition get played up instead of concealed.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
States alleged that Meta’s internal research documented links between Instagram use and harms including depression, anxiety and body-image concerns among young people, while the company publicly minimized or concealed those risks.

— Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of concealed

Verb

When women tried to march for their rights, they were violently suppressed, and by 2023, nearly all those in Afghan jails were political prisoners, and many were tortured.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
Hong Kong's independent bookstores, many of them tucked away from busy streets inside buildings, have long offered a refuge and a window to a freer world for some mainland Chinese readers seeking ideas suppressed at home.

— KANIS LEUNG, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of suppressed

Verb

The show’s noir movie aesthetics still serve its story of political ambition, where revenge is disguised as justice and greed hidden behind lofty lies of patriotism.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
As a way to get around the law, speakeasies were disguised as other business, such as bookstores, Bao said.

— Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of disguised

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belie

belied

belief

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“Belied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belied. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of belied

verb

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