Katherine T. KinkeadAmerican Guide Series: Pennsylvania
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"What is a lie?" asks Lord Byron in Don Juan. He then answers himself: "'Tis but the truth in masquerade...." The history of belie illustrates a certain connection between lying and masquerading as something other than one is. In Old English, belie meant "to deceive by lying," but in time, it came to mean "to tell lies about," taking on a sense similar to that of the modern word slander. Eventually, its meaning softened, shifting from an act of outright lying to one of mere misrepresentation; by the 1700s, the word was being used in the sense "to disguise or conceal." Nowadays, belie is typically applied when someone or something gives an impression that is in disagreement with the facts, rather than in contexts where there is an intentional untruth. A happy face put on to set others at ease, for example, may belie an internal disgruntlement.
Examples of belie in a Sentence
Alexandra Zagalsky, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Much like the ancient celebration of Samhain (All Hallows’ Eve), Scorpios are masters of subtlety and their quiet stillness more than often belies what’s actually stirring beneath the surface of their perpetual poker face.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
The ease and convenience of dining on Wagons-Lits belied a complex logistical operation.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024
The apparent slowdown in results belies the steady gains being made in various sectors.
—Sylvain Duranton, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for belie 
Dictionary Entries Near belie
Cite this Entry
“Belie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belie. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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belie
verb
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