menda-, mendac-

(Latin: untruthful; lying, lies; deceitful)

mendaciloquence (s) (noun), mendaciloquences (pl)
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.
mendaciloquent (adjective), more mendaciloquent, most mendaciloquent
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.
mendacimaniac (s) (noun), mendacimaniacs (pl)
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!
mendacious (adjective), more mendacious, most mendacious
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.
False, a deception, untrue.
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Dishonest, untruthful, lying.
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mendaciously (adverb), more mendaciously, most mendaciously
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.
mendaciousness (s) (noun) (no plural)
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.
mendacity (s) (noun), mendacities (pl)
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".
Falsehood, untruthfulness, lying.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
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