What is it called when you don't tell the whole truth?

Asked by: Mr. Otho Schuppe DDS  |  Last update: October 7, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (8 votes)

While the noun prevarication is mostly just a fancy way to say "lie," it can also mean skirting around the truth, being vague about the truth, or even delaying giving someone an answer, especially to avoid telling them the whole truth.

What is a word for not telling the whole truth?

Some common synonyms of lie are equivocate, fib, palter, and prevaricate. While all these words mean "to tell an untruth," lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty. lied about where he had been. When could equivocate be used to replace lie?

What is a word for telling half the truth?

On this page you'll find 25 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to half-truths, such as: exaggeration, half-truth, harmless untruth, little white lie, mental dishonesty, and near truth.

What is the word for lying by omission?

The first known use of palter to describe acting insincerely or deceitfully was in the 1580s. Paltering is considered both more serious and more common than a lie of omission (a passive failure to correct a wrong statement).

What is another word for deceive with lies?

On this page you'll find 185 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to deception, such as: betrayal, deceit, disinformation, duplicity, falsehood, and fraud.

Salman Rushdie on Magical Realism: True Stories Don't Tell the Whole Truth | Big Think

30 related questions found

What's another word for unspoken truth?

On this page you'll find 33 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to unspoken, such as: implicit, implied, tacit, inarticulate, inferred, and intimated.

What is the word for avoiding the truth?

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth. lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty.

What is the word for hiding parts of the truth?

Palter, Dissemble, and Other Words for Lying
  • Palter. Definition: to act insincerely or deceitfully. ...
  • Dissemble. Definition: to hide under a false appearance. ...
  • Prevaricate. Definition: to avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question. ...
  • Mendacious. Definition: likely to tell lies. ...
  • Fib. ...
  • Equivocate. ...
  • Perjure. ...
  • Half-truth.

What do you call someone who hides everything?

Definitions of hoarder. a person who accumulates things and hides them away for future use.

What's another word for finding out the truth?

The synonyms ascertain and discover are sometimes interchangeable, but ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

What is an extremely lying person called?

Share on Pinterest A pathological liar is someone who lies compulsively and without any clear benefit. Lying refers to making a false statement to deceive others intentionally, often for some form of personal gain.

What is the term pathological lying?

Changing narratives, becoming defensive, and adding dramatic details could be signs of a pathological liar. But not always. Pathological lying — also known as pseudologia fantastica, mythomania, and morbid lying — is a compulsive pattern of telling people things you know aren't true.

What is compulsive lying in psychology?

Compulsive lying describes a condition in which a person tells falsehoods out of habit, sometimes for no reason at all. It is also known as pathological lying, mythomania, and habitual lying.

What are the three types of liars?

What are the three types of liar?
  • Natural liars - This is the most common type of liar. ...
  • Pathological liars - Pathological lying is often a warning sign of antisocial personality disorder (commonly known as a psychopath). ...
  • Compulsive liars - Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large or small.

What is a delusional liar?

Delusional liars: those who lie to themselves about facts. It's not just other people we lie to. We also lie to ourselves.

Why do liars get angry when confronted?

If they feel that someone closes in on their lies and raises questions, liars tend to get angry and defensive. Even if no one is outright accusing them, they have an overblown reaction due to their fear of being caught. It also acts as a distraction and helps take the spotlight off their lies.

What mental illness are people who lie a lot?

Pathological lying or lying compulsively can also be a symptom of antisocial personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. People with these personality disorders may lie to gain sympathy or social status, or to preserve a false sense of self.

What personality disorder is a pathological liar?

Pathological lying, also known as mythomania and pseudologia fantastica, is a chronic behavior in which the person habitually or compulsively lies. Pathological liars often report that they do not know why they lie.

Why do narcissists lie about everything?

Narcissists lie to maintain power and control over the people they interact with. They are driven by an intense need for admiration, attention, and adoration, which can never be fully satisfied; therefore, their lies protect against any perceived threat of being exposed as inadequate or phony.

What are other words for distortion of the truth?

pervert, misconstrue, twist, falsify, misstate. See misrepresent.

What is a word for obvious truth?

Synonyms of obvious truth (noun general truth) a priori truth. basic truth. honest truth. indisputable truth.

What do you call a person who doesn t express their feelings?

apathetic. / (ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk) / adjective. having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent.

Why do people hide the truth?

While some people who lie want to protect the feelings of others and spare someone else pain or hurt, many people lie to protect their own feelings, self-esteem, self-confidence, or other personal emotion. A woman who says, "I didn't want that job anyway," when she really did, is lying to protect herself.