FALSE Synonyms: 317 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'false' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of false are disloyal , faithless , perfidious , traitorous , and treacherous . While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. // betrayed by false friends

Q: When is 'disloyal' a more appropriate choice than 'false'?

Although the words disloyal and false have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. // disloyal to their country

Q: When is it sensible to use 'faithless' instead of 'false'?

The words faithless and false can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. // faithless allies

Q: How are the words 'perfidious' and 'faithless' related as synonyms of 'false'?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability. // a perfidious double-crosser

Q: Where would 'traitorous' be a reasonable alternative to 'false'?

In some situations, the words traitorous and false are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. // traitorous acts punishable by death

Q: When can 'treacherous' be used instead of 'false'?

The synonyms treacherous and false are sometimes interchangeable, but treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. // a treacherous adviser

false

adjective

ˈfȯls

Definition of false

as in erroneous

not being in agreement with what is true early reports about the explosion contained much false information

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in faux

being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials George Washington's false teeth were not made of wood but of elephant ivory and cow's teeth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in counterfeit

being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud arrested for selling false ID cards to teenagers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mock

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality so much of the sympathy that the widow received was false and hypocritical, since it came from people who never liked her husband in the first place

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fraudulent

marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value false advertising that claimed that the vegetables were organically grown when they weren't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in traitorous

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something false friends who deserted the prizefighter when all his money was gone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in misleading

tending or having power to deceive it turned out that the con man had made false promises of marriage to a dozen women

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word false different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of false are disloyal, faithless, perfidious, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

When is disloyal a more appropriate choice than false?

Although the words disloyal and false have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

When is it sensible to use faithless instead of false?

The words faithless and false can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

How are the words perfidious and faithless related as synonyms of false?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

Where would traitorous be a reasonable alternative to false?

In some situations, the words traitorous and false are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

When can treacherous be used instead of false?

The synonyms treacherous and false are sometimes interchangeable, but treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

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 false Foreman turned footage of the raid into a series of music videos that went viral, over which the officers sued him in 2023 for defamation and false light, among other claims. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026 The other, Josiah Peeler, has been charged with false swearing. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 29 July 2026 The risk is false confidence in dashboards that provide visibility without understanding or action authority. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Preconceived notions about eating disorders − including the false belief that patients need to be emaciated to be diagnosed − can sometimes prevent parents from recognizing their own struggles. — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for false

Recent Examples of Synonyms for false

Adjective

Reports based on the erroneous California Crash Reporting System entry surfaced Monday night, prompting Shanahan to address the crash Tuesday.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
However, the vast majority of these folks did not actually vote, and many asked for their erroneous registrations to be purged, contrary to the Republican fantasy that millions of noncitizens are all gunning to illegally vote.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026

Definition of erroneous

Adjective

Cyber criminals are using highly convincing counterfeit audio, video, and identity fabrications as tools in ways that conventional detection methods will fail to identify.

— Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
The big panels themselves were jammed — too jammed, with hundreds reportedly unable to get inside Hall H amid unconfirmed rumors of counterfeit wristbands.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2026

Definition of counterfeit

Adjective

Instead of dwelling on the crime, the owners decided to respond with humor, posting the video on Instagram with a mock 0-star review for the burglary crew.

— Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
After Max tortures them in a mock-trial confrontation in their living room, Tom eventually tackles Max into the backyard pool.

— Benjamin VanHoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Definition of mock

Adjective

The new features include the Clear Skies Papermill Alarm, which helps identify potentially fraudulent manuscripts at submission.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
In May, Percival directed DHS attorneys to pursue additional enforcement actions targeting fraudulent asylum claims.

— Preston Mizell , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of fraudulent

Adjective

Telemachus’ lone contribution is killing Melanthius, the traitorous Ithacan farmhand, thus preventing him from continuing to arm the suitors.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 July 2026
And at the very center of Hell is Satan himself, the traitorous Archangel Lucifer, depicted as a monstrous creature with wings and three heads.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026

Definition of traitorous

Adjective

Spanish officials have blamed traffickers for spreading similar misleading information, and there is a growing suspicion that Moroccan authorities initially failed to stop the crowds, intentionally allowing the surge to grow.

— Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Pruitt’s interest in opera is genuine, but the flourish is misleading.

— Carson Griffith, New Yorker, 30 July 2026

Definition of misleading

Adjective

However, working against the backup units, Kilgore has found himself around the ball quite a bit, even picking off an inaccurate pass from Shane Buechele on Saturday.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Rank's defense argued that video from the security camera and from body cameras on scene clearly demonstrated that Special Agent Berger's version of events was inaccurate.

— Conor Wight, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of inaccurate

Browse Nearby Words

fall (to)

false

falsehood

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“False.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/false. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of false

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