fib

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈfib 

: a trivial or childish lie

fib

2 of 4

verb (1)

fibbed; fibbing

intransitive verb

: to tell a fib

fibber noun

fib

3 of 4

verb (2)

fibbed; fibbing

British

: pummel, beat

fibber

4 of 4

noun (2)

fib·​ber

ˈfibə(r)

plural -s

: one that tells fibs

Synonyms of fib

Noun (1)

• lie
• tale
• story

Verb (1)

• lie

Verb (2)

• lick
• hide
• lash
• pound
• beat
• whip
• attack
• knock
• slap
• do
• hit
• thump
• pelt
• spank
• slam
• punch
• batter
• assault
• bat

Choose the Right Synonym for fib

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth.

lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

lied about where he had been

prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate

equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another.

equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors

palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises.

a swindler paltering with his investors

fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth.

fibbed about the price of the new suit

Examples of fib in a Sentence

Noun (1)

I have to admit that I told a fib when I said I enjoyed the movie.

Is she telling fibs again?

Verb (1)

fibbed and said that he had remembered to water her plants while she was away

Verb (2)

the two drunken pub crawlers proceeded to fib each other senseless

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Law Roach isn’t opposed to telling a fib on behalf of his client and close friend, Zendaya. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Increasingly, human resources departments noticed that applicants used the résumé to tell white lies, and even bigger fibs, listing fictitious degrees, fake promotions and other embellishments. — Stephen Mihm, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026

Verb

Yet, fantasy, fibbing, and fiction are part of the human experience. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026

For the record, Vrabel has fibbed to my face in an interview about his close friend, John Streicher, the Patriots’ vice president of football operations and strategy. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps by shortening & alteration from fable

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1675, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fib

• A-fib

Kids Definition

fib

noun

ˈfib

: an unimportant lie

fib verb

fibber noun

Medical Definition

fib

abbreviation

fibrillation