Synonyms and antonyms of To tell lies and deceive people in British Thesaurus

misspeak (verb)

American to state a fact that is inaccurate

deceive (verb)

if something deceives you, it gives you a false idea about something else

make up ()

to invent an explanation for something, especially in order to avoid being punished or embarrassed

invent (verb)

to make up a story, excuse etc that is not true

lie (verb)

to deliberately say something that is not true

concoct (verb)

to invent a false explanation or false information, especially for a dishonest purpose

fabricate (verb)

to make up a story or piece of information in order to make someone believe something that is not true

manufacture (verb)

to make up a story that is not true

mislead (verb)

to make someone believe something that is incorrect or not true

bend the truth ()

to say something that is not completely true in order to achieve an aim

be economical with the truth ()

to say things that are not true, or to not tell everything that you know

be full of shit/crap/it ()

to often say things that are not true, especially in order to impress people

bluff (verb)

to deliberately give a false idea to someone about what you intend to do, or about the facts of a situation, especially in order to gain an advantage

bullshit (verb)

impolite to tell someone something that is stupid or not true

con (verb)

informal to make someone believe something that is not true, especially in order to get money from them

cook up ()

to invent a story, excuse, or plan

cry wolf ()

to keep saying that there is a problem when there is not, with the result that people do not believe you when there really is a problem

defame (verb)

formal to say or write something bad about someone that is not true and makes other people have a bad opinion of them

delude (verb)

to make someone think something that is not true

embroider (verb)

to make a story or an account of an event more interesting by adding details you have invented

feed someone a line ()

to give someone false information

fib (verb)

informal to tell a lie about something that is not important

fob off ()

to give someone an answer or explanation that is not true or complete, in order to make them stop asking questions or complaining

fool (verb)

to trick someone by making them believe something that is not true

hoodwink (verb)

to make someone believe something that is not true

jive (verb)

Americanold-fashioned to tell someone something that you know is not true

lead on ()

to encourage someone to do something or to expect something, especially by lying to them or promising them something that they cannot have

lead someone astray ()

to make someone believe something that is not true

libel (verb)

to write things about someone that are not true

misinform (verb)

to give someone false or incorrect information, especially in order to trick them

misreport (verb)

to give a false or incorrect account or description of something

misrepresent (verb)

to give a false or incorrect account or description of what someone or something is like in order to trick someone

pad (verb)

to put false amounts or information on a document so that you get more money than you should

palm off ()

to give someone an explanation or excuse that is not true or is not satisfactory, but which you hope they will accept

pass off ()

to make people believe that a person or thing is something else

pawn off as ()

to pretend that someone or something is a person or thing that they are not in order to trick someone else

peddle (verb)

to try to make people believe a story, explanation, or idea, especially when it is wrong

perjure yourself ()

to lie when you give evidence in a court of law

put about (British)

Britishinformal to tell a lot of people something, especially something that is not true

put on (mainly American)

mainly Americaninformal to try to make someone believe something that is not true

put one over on someone (informal)

informal to trick someone into believing something that is not true

slander (verb)

to say something about someone that is not true and is likely to damage their reputation

smear (verb)

to try to damage someone’s reputation by telling lies about them

spin (someone) a yarn ()

to give someone a long detailed excuse or explanation that is completely false

take liberties with (formal)

formal to represent information in a way that is not exactly correct

take someone for a ride ()

to trick, cheat, or lie to someone

trick (verb)

to make someone believe something that is not true

trick (adjective)

used for tricking someone

wheedle (verb)

to persuade someone using tricks, lies, or flattery (=praise that is not sincere)

whitewash (verb)

to try to stop people from discovering the true facts about something, in order to prevent someone in authority from being criticized

wind up (British)

Britishinformal to trick someone by telling them something that is not true