menda-, mendac-

Lying as a fine art; adroit or skilled prevarication: The politician was telling so many falsehoods that his mendaciloquence was finally recognized by the voters and he lost the election.

Telling artful lies or presenting false words: The governor's mendaciloquent excuses that he was innocent of charges that he was taking drugs didn't convince anyone because pictures revealed the truth.

A compulsive prevaricator or someone who continually deviates from the truth: It seems that more and more people in high positions as politicians and business people have become mendacimaniacs!

1. Not truthful; lying or making false statements: When Andre got home late, he told his wife a mendacious story about having a flat tire, when, as a matter of fact, he was with his friend drinking a bottle of beer at the local pub!
2. Characterized by habitual deception or telling fibs: Jerome created mendacious tales of his adventures while he was traveling in Europe, such as winning a lot of money in a French casino and meeting the Queen of England at a party in London.
3. Pertaining to a distortion of the truth, especially as a regular routine: Elaine's young son, Jimmy, was constantly telling her mendacious excuses for not doing his homework for school because he was so focused on playing games on his computer with friends. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

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1. An untruthful presentation: The newspaper published a mendaciously unacceptable story about one of the leading candidates for mayor.
2. Characterized by inveracities and deceit: The businessman went too far with his mendaciously illegal investments and ended up financially broke.

1. Characterized by deception or falsehood: When Steven received an "A+" (excellent grade) on his final exam, although his grade point average was a "D" (barely-passing grade), his teacher, Mrs. Straight, became very suspicious. When she had a serious talk with Steven, he admitted his mendaciousness by explaining that he found a copy of the teacher's test which she had accidentally left in a textbook that she had loaned to him one day when he left his at home.

A CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of a chain of department stores was sentenced to three years of prison for the mendaciousness of using company money for private purposes.

2. Divergence from absolute truth: The defiant mayor of the city continued with his mendaciousness even after the police confirmed that they had a video of him smoking crack which he repeatedly denied.

1. Dishonesty and untruthfulness: There is so much mendacity in politics that people don't know what to believe anymore.
2. Habitual lying or deceiving: Sometimes people are victims of mendacities committed by investment claims of some companies, and even a few banks, to such an extent that they have to find lawyers to defend their losses!
3. Etymology: from Late Latin mendacitas, "falsehood". © ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.