Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Intentionally untrue; false: Describes a statement, account, or piece of information that is deliberately not true.
   • Given to or characterized by deception or lying: Describes a person who habitually tells lies or a behavior that is deceitful.

Examples of Usage

• Describing a statement:

  • The politician was accused of making a mendacious claim about his opponent's record.
  • The article was full of mendacious assertions designed to mislead the public.

• Describing a person or character:

  • He was known to be a mendacious individual whom no one could trust.
  • The witness was exposed as thoroughly mendacious during the cross-examination.

Advanced Usage

• "Mendacious propaganda": False information spread deliberately to promote a political cause or point of view.

  • The regime controlled the media and spread mendacious propaganda to maintain power.

• "A mendacious smile": A smile that is deceptive or hides a lie.

  • She gave a mendacious smile while assuring us everything was fine.

Variants and Related Words

• Mendacity (noun): The quality of being mendacious; untruthfulness.

  • The mendacity of his testimony was shocking to the jury.

• Mendaciously (adverb): In a mendacious manner.

  • He mendaciously denied any involvement in the scheme.

Synonyms

• Dishonest: Behaving in a way that is not honest or fair.
• Deceitful: Guilty of or involving deceit; intended to mislead.
• Untruthful: Not telling the truth; dishonest.
• False: Not according with truth or fact; incorrect.

Antonyms

• Truthful: Telling or expressing the truth; honest.
• Honest: Free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere.
• Veracious: Speaking or representing the truth.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A tissue of lies: A story or account that is full of lies (a concept closely related to something mendacious).
  • His alibi turned out to be a complete tissue of lies.

Adjective

1. intentionally untrue
   • a mendacious statement
2. given to lying
   • a mendacious child