Synonyms Examples Word Origin
verb (used with object), be·lied, be·ly·ing. to show to be false; contradict: His trembling hands belied his calm voice. to misrepresent: The newspaper belied the facts. to act unworthily according to the standards of (a tradition, one's ancestry, one's faith, etc.). Archaic to lie about; slander. Show More
Origin of belie before 1000; Middle English belyen, Old English belēogan. See
be- ,
lie1 Related forms be·li·er , noun un·be·lied , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for belied negate ,
contradict ,
repudiate ,
mislead ,
misstate ,
distort ,
contravene ,
deny ,
disagree ,
negative ,
explode ,
controvert ,
oppose ,
confute ,
gainsay ,
pervert ,
hide ,
disguise ,
color ,
warp Examples from the Web for belied Contemporary Examples of belied But his words felt forced and were belied his 2004 vote to oppose marking Martin Luther King Jr.
There were, though, other loves that belied the appearance of a desiccated, workaholic spinster.
With a soft smile and a shrug that belied by his steely eyes, he replied, “Start another.”
He belied his stated remorse as it became clear his primary regret was that he had landed himself behind bars.
Spike, she of the punk-rocker hair that belied a gentle personality, eventually opted to keep the baby (Emma).
Historical Examples of belied Four years of new experience have not belied our historic instinct.
He had a feeling of security that was belied by all his experience with men.
But her rich tones were full of a genuine eagerness that belied the look.
The mournful irony of the words was belied by the tremulous voice.
"I trust not," said Gregory, in accents of relief that belied him.
British Dictionary definitions for belied verb -lies , -lying or -lied (tr) to show to be untrue; contradict to misrepresent; disguise the nature of the report belied the real extent of the damage to fail to justify; disappoint Show More
Derived Forms belier , noun Word Origin for belie Old English belēogan ; related to Old Frisian biliuga , Old High German biliugan ; see be- , lie 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for belied v. Old English beleogan "to deceive by lies," from be- + lie (v.1) "to lie, tell lies." Current sense of "to contradict as a lie" is first recorded 1640s. The other verb lie once also had a formation like this, from Old English belicgan , which meant "to encompass, beleaguer," and in Middle English was a euphemism for "to have sex with" (i.e. "to lie with carnally").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
