half-truth

noun

Definition of half-truthnext
as in lie
a statement that is only partly true and that is intended to deceive people I'm tired of all these half-truths—I want to know the real story.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of half-truth This statement, which is repeated like a mantra in countless spaces, is only a half-truth. — Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 This is a dangerous half-truth. — Randy Niemeyer, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 Don’t settle for half-truths; seek meaningful joy. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026 Some information is useful, some is harmful and some are half-truths that can cost you real money. — Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for half-truth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for half-truth
  1. lie
  2. tale
  3. story
Noun
  • Recounting the disappearance of his sister Jade 20 years earlier, this text threatens to expose the lies, secrets and rifts within a group of friends bound forever by tragic events.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • On the lower level lie the Oceanfront Balcony and Premium Oceanfront Balcony rooms, with the same factors distinguishing Premium from not.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of lie
Noun
  • The play is a gently unfolding, calmly delivered tale of the decades of horrors endured by a real-life person named Eddie Jaku.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • And for Netflix, Bayona helmed Society of the Snow, a drama based on the true-life tale of the Uruguayan 1972 Andes flight disaster.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of tale
Noun
  • While the episodic stories reflect the never-ending parade of tourists and partygoers, the show also provides Dennis and Rosa with long-term arcs.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Suffice it to say the mystery bullets that landed in Rate Field’s bleachers in 2023 and wounded two women definitely aren’t relevant to this feel-good story but are worth mentioning to remind us how much the Sox narrative has changed.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of story

Browse Nearby Words

half-pints
half-truth
half-truths
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Cite this Entry

“Half-truth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half-truth. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on half-truth

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about half-truth

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