BELYING Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

belying

verb

present participle of belie

as in misrepresenting

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 refuting

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obscuring

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 belying Dawn ends the resurrection spell in response, belying her own statement. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 The image is whimsical, belying their instinct to flee the harsh world outside that tent, and through it, the audience gets to understand their psyche and innermost thoughts. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026 For most islanders—not to mention for most of us watching—the search for love is a false grail, belying a rabid, desperate host of social needs that actively undermine the pursuit. — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 With Erik Spoelstra saying all the right things but belying them with his actions, the Kel’el Ware-Bam Adebayo pairing appeared to have a limited future. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026 Inside, its luxurious custom leather seats and carbon fiber trim transform the Shelby into a quality cabin belying its F-150 roots. — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 On an unremarkable clay tennis court in the Spanish city of Alicante, watched on by only a handful of spectators, two teenagers swipe the ball to one another with surprising vigor, belying their scrawny, adolescent frames. — George Ramsay, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025 Henry communicates the weight of Ray’s past with a flicker in his gaze and a shadow that falls over his face, belying the easy confidence established by the character’s introduction. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025 Adem Zorgane has long been a statistical anomaly in Belgian football, his incredible passing numbers belying his position at the heart of a distinctly mid-table side. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belying

Verb

Settlement talks collapsed in late August after Bonta accused Paramount of leaking and misrepresenting their discussions.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
At that public meeting, several parents said Adams should have been fired for misleading them and misrepresenting the condition of the Earl Warren ATP facilities.

— Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of misrepresenting

Verb

While refuting any suggestion of police repression, Lecornu condemned violence on the margins of protests, which were mostly peaceful Tuesday, despite the dramatic scenes that dominated coverage.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
However, in July, Wayne released a message refuting reports of an engagement, referring to a relationship with someone in the past tense, albeit without mentioning them by name.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of refuting

Verb

Just such an October weather pattern occurred 61 years ago, obscuring predawn views of the spectacular Comet Ikeya-Seki for most observers east of the Mississippi — an ironic fate for the most brilliant comet of the 20th century.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Today’s problem is hyperscalers spending themselves into oblivion, spreading inflation well beyond Silicon Valley and obscuring problems nearly everywhere else.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscuring

Verb

He has been charged with murder, two counts of indecent behavior involving a minor, and concealing a corpse.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
The cases target people the department accuses of concealing criminal activity, faking their identities or lying to the government to get their citizenship.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of concealing

Verb

For instance, the measure would prevent courts from overturning approvals of qualifying projects because of CEQA violations.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Three previous attempts to evict the 87-year-old were denied by the courts, but in March, the Supreme Court ruled against her, overturning a January 2022 decision in her favor.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of overturning

Verb

But this is in fact the opportunity hiding inside the greatest technological acceleration of our lifetimes.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Apparently, as Ted Bundy, Kip’s been Paused since last night, hiding under the porch of an attractive law student who’s suddenly on to him.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

This emerged when another routine health intervention in June had a target list with 4 million more children than the measles campaign despite covering the same age group.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Performers weren’t spared either, with several forced to perform in the rain without covering for both artists and their equipment.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of covering

Verb

These scams convince people to execute malicious commands themselves, often by disguising the instructions as a software installation or troubleshooting step.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Hüller was to play a woman disguising herself as a male soldier in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War, ingratiating herself in a small Protestant village.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of disguising

Browse Nearby Words

belvederes

belying

bemire

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Style

“Belying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belying. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of belying

verb

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