Untruer: meaning, definitions and examples
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untruer
[ ʌnˈtruːər ]
comparative form
Untruer is the comparative form of the adjective 'untrue', which means not true or false. It is used to describe something that is less truthful or more misleading in comparison to something else. The use of 'untruer' is relatively rare, as most contexts prefer using 'less true'. It conveys a sense of increased deceitfulness or inaccuracy between two or more subjects.
Synonyms
deceptive, less true, more false
Examples of usage
- His statement was untruer than I expected.
- The report was deemed untruer by several analysts.
- She found his excuses to be untruer compared to last time.
Etymology
The word 'untrue' dates back to Middle English, derived from the Old English 'untriewa', where 'un-' is a prefix meaning 'not' and 'triewa' means 'true'. The comparative form 'untruer' follows the pattern of forming comparatives by appending '-er' to the base adjective. The evolution of 'untrue' reflects a longstanding linguistic treatment of negating adjectives with prefixes to convey the opposite meaning. While 'untrue' has maintained a more stable usage through history, 'untruer' is often found in more formal or literary contexts. Its rarity in modern language stems partly from the fact that English speakers tend to utilize 'less true' in everyday conversation. 'Untruer' thus represents a unique but infrequently employed variation of its root adjective.