belie

[ bih-lahy ]

/ bɪˈlaɪ /

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See synonyms for: belie / belies / belying on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR belie

1 refute, disprove, repudiate, confute, gainsay.

See synonyms for belie on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR belie

1 prove, confirm, substantiate, verify, support.

See antonyms for belie on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of belie

First recorded before 1000; Middle English belyen, Old English belēogan; see be-, lie¹

synonym study for belie

1, 2. See misrepresent.

OTHER WORDS FROM belie

be·li·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use belie in a sentence

John Edwards was viewed as too slick by half, his beachfront mansion belying his stated position as a champion of the downtrodden.
How to Survive a Sex Scandal: Mark Sanford Edition|David Freedlander|April 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In a blazer and dress shirt open at the collar, he was cool and measured, surely belying a famous inner rage.
Rahm Emanuel Up Against a Teacher’s Strike|James Warren|September 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Tony was gay, light-hearted as usual, belying Mrs. Haughstone's ominous prediction.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
“I am not so weak that she could make me sign that paper,” cried Dick, his pale face and shaking hands belying his assertion.
A Daughter of the Union|Lucy Foster Madison

Nehmon rose, his gaunt face and graying hair belying the youthful movement of his body.
The Link|Alan Edward Nourse
Belying his war-like aspect he was harnessed to a child's express wagon which was loaded with milk cans and baskets.
Ethel Morton at Chautauqua|Mabell S. C. Smith
She murmured many apologies, but the genius of fun danced in her saucy, almost impertinent eyes, belying her regretful words.
Hoosier Mosaics|Maurice Thompson

British Dictionary definitions for belie

belie

/ (bɪˈlaɪ) /

verb -lies, -lying or -lied (tr)

to show to be untrue; contradict

to misrepresent; disguise the nature ofthe report belied the real extent of the damage

to fail to justify; disappoint

Derived forms of belie

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

belie

OTHER WORDS FOR belie

OPPOSITES FOR belie

Origin of belie

synonym study for belie

OTHER WORDS FROM belie

Words related to belie

How to use belie in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for belie

Derived forms of belie

Word Origin for belie