false

[fawls] / fɔls /

ADJECTIVE

wrong, made up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bogus deceitful dishonest distorted erroneous fake fanciful faulty fictitious fraudulent improper inaccurate incorrect invalid misleading mistaken phony specious spurious unfounded unreal untrue untruthful

WEAK

apocryphal beguiling casuistic concocted contrary to fact cooked-up counterfactual deceiving delusive ersatz fallacious fishy illusive imaginary inexact lying mendacious misrepresentative off the mark sham sophistical trumped-up unsound

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accurate authentic correct fair faithful frank genuine honest moral open proven real right sincere sound true trustworthy truthful valid

WEAK

actual factual just known precise reliable straight substantiated

ADJECTIVE

dishonest, hypocritical

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deceitful deceptive malicious misleading

WEAK

apostate base beguiling canting corrupt crooked deceiving deluding delusive devious dishonorable disloyal double-dealing duplicitous faithless falsehearted forsworn foul lying malevolent mean mythomaniac perfidious perjured rascally recreant renegade scoundrelly traitorous treacherous treasonable two-faced underhanded unfaithful unscrupulous untrustworthy venal villainous wicked

Antonyms

STRONGEST

frank honest open truthful upright

WEAK

accurate actual correct factual genuine just known precise real reliable right straight substantiated true valid

ADJECTIVE

fake, counterfeit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bogus contrived deceptive fabricated forged hollow phony spurious unreal wrong

WEAK

adulterated alloyed artificial assumed bent brummagem bum colored copied crock disguised ersatz factitious feigned fishy framed imitation made-up make believe manufactured meretricious mock ostensible pretended pseudo seeming shady sham simulated snide so-called substitute synthetic

Antonyms

STRONGEST

authentic frank genuine honest real sincere truthful

WEAK

accurate actual correct factual just known precise reliable right straight substantiated true valid

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She brought a civil-rights suit for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and conspiracy.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

As the aviator hid from Iranian forces, the agency spread false word inside the country that the U.S. military had already located the downed airman and were preparing to move him overland for exfiltration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Toni Jaramilla, the attorney for Cowser, said in a written statement that the police department “failed to correct the false narrative” even when videos proved the officer was lying.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

But the governor, Iraj Kazemijou, said reports that US forces had landed there were "completely false and have no validity".

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

The thousands of leads the police had received about the Mona Lisa were all false.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

false

Example Sentences

Related Words