Mendacity: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'mendacity' when referring to habitual lying or an ingrained tendency to lie. It often has a formal or literary tone.

• His reputation for mendacity made it hard for anyone to trust him.
• The politician's mendacity was condemned by the public.

Use 'dishonesty' when referring to a lack of honesty or integrity. It is a general term that can be applied to various situations where truthfulness is absent.

• His dishonesty cost him his job.
• There should be no room for dishonesty in our friendship.

Use 'deceit' to describe the act of concealing or misrepresenting the truth with the intention to mislead. It is often used in contexts involving trickery or fraud.

• The company's deceit was uncovered during the audit.
• She was hurt by his deceit and manipulative behavior.

Use 'falsehood' to indicate a statement or belief that is untrue. It is often used in more formal or serious conversations.

• The jury was misled by the falsehoods presented in court.
• She couldn't believe the falsehoods spreading about her.

Usually utilized in more formal or literary contexts, often describing a characteristic or state of being consistently untruthful.

• The politician’s mendacity was evident in every speech he gave

A commonly used term in both formal and informal settings, specifically referring to the act of telling falsehoods or untruths.

• He was caught lying about his whereabouts last night

Typically used in formal or academic settings, focusing on the quality or state of not telling the truth.

• The witness’s untruthfulness was exposed during cross-examination

Often used when referring to an act or practice of misleading someone, commonly found in everyday conversations and writing. It can include intentional misleading actions or words.

• Her deception led everyone to believe she was someone she was not