belie

/bi'lai/

Thân thiện

His cheerful smile belies his deep anxiety.

Definition

Verb: 1. To give a false impression of; to misrepresent: To show something to be different or less true than it really is. 2. To prove false; to contradict: To show that something (like a hope, belief, or statement) is not true or accurate.

Usage and Examples

• To give a false impression:
  • His calm smile belied the nervousness he felt inside.
  • The modest exterior of the house belies its luxurious interior.
• To prove false; to contradict:
  • The latest economic data belies the government's optimistic claims.
  • Her energetic performance belied her age.

Advanced Usage

• "to belie one's promise": To fail to keep a promise.
  • He belied his promise to help, leaving us to finish the project alone.
• "acts belie words": When someone's actions contradict their statements.
  • Politicians often face criticism when their acts belie their words.

Variants and Related Words

• Unbelied (adj): Not contradicted or proven false. (Rare)
• Belying (v, present participle): The act of giving a false impression.
  • The belying nature of his friendly demeanor was eventually revealed.

Synonyms

• Misrepresent: To give a false or misleading account of.
• Contradict: To be in conflict with.
• Disguise: To conceal the true nature of.
• Gainsay: To deny or contradict (formal).

Antonyms

• Reveal: To make known.
• Disclose: To uncover.
• Confirm: To establish the truth of.
• Attest: To provide evidence for.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To belie expectations: To act contrary to what was anticipated.
  • The team's victory belied all expectations.
• A look that belies one's feelings: A facial expression that hides one's true emotions.
  • She managed a smile, a look that belied her feelings of despair.

Học thuật

Verb

1. represent falsely
   • This statement misrepresents my intentions
2. be in contradiction with

Từ đồng nghĩa

• misrepresent
• contradict
• negate