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Glite Dictionary
to bely

to bely

1 8.7
Make something seem different from what it really is
  • verb
  • /bɪˈlaɪ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : desmentir
  • Belying the sterile look of the land, a fair amount of wildlife lives among the rocks.

Down to this moment when this lightness of tone is belied by the involuntary shrinking of his body.

Examples

  • "What happened?" he asked, the cold, flat calmness of his voice belying the anger that raged inside him.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "No," Charlotte replied, the lift in her voice belying the word.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • With Rachel, it is her beautiful face belying her amazing power over so many accomplished horses.

    Blog text (18)

  • The next morning was clear and brisk, with a few high clouds, belying the rainy season.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Hospital for Sinners" is quietly driven, its boisterous rhythm belying the gentle confidence at its heart.

    Blog text (27)

  • Economic growth remained vigorous, belying industry's vocal fears that adjustment would bring a recession.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Mrs. Gallagher's kitchen was cozy and cheerful, belying the permanently sour expression on her face.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • PHOTO (COLOR): The former mining town of Lenis, now a hub for adventure travel, has a colorful charm belying the poverty that enveloped the area for more than a century.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Upon entering the CRC, one is struck by its spaciousness, with ample sunlight pouring in from windows and skylights, belying one's expectations of a storage facility as dark and crowded.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The actress's confident smile belying her nervousness during the audition was impressive.

Synonyms

to debunk
vsto bely
57 5.7

To show that an idea or claim is false with clear facts

shows that something is not true without focusing on pretensions
to belie
vsto bely
26 8.6

Make a person or thing seem different from how they really are

is the same meaning but spelled with a y ending
to cast doubt
vsto bely
17 4.6

Make people feel unsure if something is true

shows something is not true rather than merely creating doubt
to falsify
vsto bely
12 7.2

To show that an idea or claim is not true

gives a false impression without necessarily proving it

Antonyms

to reveal
∞ 2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

to disclose
234 4.1

To tell people information that was secret

How Misleading

to falsify
  • Formal
44 7.3
to fabricate
50 7.3
to bely
  • Archaic
1 8.7
to mislead
87 3.9

Surface Forms

bely infinitive
belying present participle
belys third person singular
belyed past
belyed past participle

Morphology

bely = lie (transparent) = be + lie

The meaning 'to show to be false' follows predictably from the prefix 'be-' combined with 'lie'.

Etymology

Bely comes from old English parts be- plus lie, and lie means 'to tell an untrue thing'. So to bely something is to give a 'false impression' of it or to show that something is not true.