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pathological liar

American  
[path-uh-loj-i-kuhl lahy-er] / ˈpæθ əˌlɒdʒ ɪ kəl ˈlaɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person who tells lies frequently, with no rational motive for doing so.


Etymology

Origin of pathological liar

First recorded in 1890–95

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.

Federal prosecutors called him a pathological liar and swindler who falsely portrayed himself as a successful businessman and real-estate mogul with stints at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Zoning in on his career and moments such as his dramatic ousting from OpenAI in 2023, the story portrayed Altman as a pathological liar.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Yes, I’m biased against anyone who’s that uncivil, especially when he disrespects facts or — worse — is a pathological liar.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2025

"He's a pathological liar," Parsa told the Beast.

From Salon • Dec. 1, 2022

The only thing you have for measuring what’s real is your mind...so what happens when your mind becomes a pathological liar?

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

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