Belie: meaning, example and synonyms
Believ. To give a false impression of something; to disguise or contradict what is true.
Example
The researcher's calm, measured tone belied the urgency of her findings, which suggested that the region's aquifer would run dry within a decade.
- Part of speech
- verb
- Synonyms
- disguise, misrepresent, contradict, mask
- Antonyms
- reveal, reflect, confirm
- Memory tip
- Belie sounds like 'be a lie': the surface lies about what is beneath.
Belie is in batch 18. Study it with the rest of the batch, then pass the batch quiz to learn it. No account needed; progress is saved on this device.
Check yourself: Belie in context
The old farmhouse's cheerful yellow paint ______ the condition of its frame, which inspectors found to be riddled with rot and barely able to support the roof.
Answer: belied. Cheerful paint gave a false impression of a rotting frame, so belied fits. refracted (bend light), ingratiated (win favor by flattery) and enervated (drain of energy) don't fit this context.
The economist warned that the region's low unemployment rate ______ deeper trouble, because many workers had simply stopped looking for jobs and so were no longer counted.
Answer: belies. A low rate that hides real trouble gives a false impression, so belies fits. purloins (steal), refracts (bend light) and enervates (drain of energy) don't fit this context.