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View synonyms for belie

belie

[ bih-lahy ]

verb (used with object)

, be·lied, be·ly·ing.
  1. to show to be false; contradict:

    His trembling hands belied his calm voice.

    Synonyms: gainsay, confute, repudiate, disprove, refute

    Antonyms: support, verify, substantiate, confirm, prove

  2. to misrepresent:

    The newspaper belied the facts.

  3. to act unworthily according to the standards of (a tradition, one's ancestry, one's faith, etc.).
  4. Archaic. to lie about; slander.


belie

/ bɪˈlaɪ /

verb

  1. to show to be untrue; contradict
  2. to misrepresent; disguise the nature of

    the report belied the real extent of the damage

  3. to fail to justify; disappoint
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • beˈlier, noun
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Other Words From

  • be·li·er noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of belie1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English belyen, Old English belēogan; be-, lie 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of belie1

Old English belēogan ; related to Old Frisian biliuga , Old High German biliugan ; see be- , lie 1
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

In becoming only the third American woman to medal in an Olympic marathon, she belied her underdog status by taking the race to the fastest women on the planet.

Raboutou’s finishing score in the bouldering event belies her performance—she climbed incredibly well.

Most of the professional reviews I read praised the show in ways which belied how underqualified the critics were to address autistic stories.

From Time

Even the data and his words belie his implication that these group differences are innate or a function of culture and not a product of discriminatory public policy.

His relentless chipperness and nerdish fascination with intervals between train arrivals belie his success as a shrewd political negotiator.

From Time

But the events around her entry into politics belie her image as the friendly woman next door in small town Iowa.

But the causes belie a looming emergency that may leave hospitals scrambling, Red Cross officials said.

This obviously contributes to under-reporting and may belie the campus' safety records.

Those questions are what belie the real problem with effort.

And if Obama has recently sounded like a paragon of judicious oversight, the actions of his administration belie his words.

Bonnebault was squint-eyed and his physical appearance did not belie his depravity.

The Transport Company thought much of him, only they said he was reckless, and he surely acted youthful to belie his looks.

Archer's horse did not belie the character he had given of him.

She laughed to belie her words, but the note of agitation was not to be concealed.

Why, when I say I am not ashamed to be poor, does the blood rise in my cheeks to belie my words?

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Belialbelied