Skip to main content
half-truth

half-truth

16 6.7
A statement that is partly true but leaves out important facts to mislead
  • noun
  • /ˈhæf truːθ/
translation icon : media verdad
  • Thus, to many Mexican Americans, the sense of accomplishment and/or advancement is only a half-truth.
  • half-truths at best

Constructing a difficult balance of truths, half truths and silences.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The media coverage of the gas has been so unfair, so full of half-truths.

  • But they are half-truths at best, and very often a half-truth is more dangerous than a total lie.

    Academic text (1993)
  • But it's hard to take things on trust from people speaking half-truths.

  • You only see what you want to see and use half-truths and lies to prove your point.

    Blog text (5)
  • I'm not going to sit here and listen to half-truths.

  • "We don't need the money," Kevin said, but he knew it was a half-truth.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The educational problem with the belief that music bypasses the mind is that it contains a half-truth.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Whether it's corporations, advertisers, or everyday people, lying or half-truths have gone from taboo to normal.

    Blog text (3)
  • I want to see the faces of those of you... who would eliminate the possibility of greatness in American leadership... because of half-truths, lies and innuendoes.

  • Politicians often use half-truths to manipulate public opinion during campaigns.

Synonyms

lie
vshalf-truth
2.7

A false statement told to trick someone

keeps some correct details instead of saying something entirely false
distortion
vshalf-truth
46 5.8

A report or statement that gives a false picture of the truth

mixes accurate details with omissions to create a false impression
falsehood
vshalf-truth
46 4.3

A statement that is not true

contains some correct elements rather than being completely untrue
misrepresentation
vshalf-truth
25 7.5

A statement that gives false information about something

includes some correct details while hiding other crucial facts
untruth
vshalf-truth
16 5.5

A false statement

includes partial facts instead of presenting a wholly false claim
doublespeak
vshalf-truth
  • Literature
6 9.3

Language that hides the truth by using vague or confusing words

uses some factual parts but hides the real meaning through omission
falsity
vshalf-truth
6 7.9

A statement or idea that is not true

combines factual bits with omissions to create a misleading statement
prevarication
vshalf-truth
  • Formal
3 9.9

To avoid telling the truth by being vague or misleading

keeps some facts but leaves out key information to mislead
economical with the truth
vshalf-truth
  • Literature
1 8.6

Not telling the whole truth to hide facts or avoid blame

omits facts while still presenting parts to deceive
truthy statement
vshalf-truth
  • Literature
8.3

A statement that sounds believable but may not be real

is partly factual yet designed to mislead by leaving out facts

Antonyms

1.0

A fact that shows how things really are

lie
2.7

A false statement told to trick someone

How True

truth
1.0
half-truth
16 6.7
distortion
46 5.8
lie
2.7

Surface Forms

half-truth singular
half-truths plural

Morphology

half-truth = half + truth (transparent) = half + truth

The meaning is directly compositional: 'half' + 'truth' denotes something partly true or only partially truthful.

Etymology

The word half-truth is made from half 'part' and truth 'real fact'. It means something that is only partly true because important details are left out, so it can mislead people.