Mendacious
/mɛnˈdeɪʃəs/
adjectiveC2
Definition
Mendacious is an adjective used to describe someone or something that often lies or is not truthful. It means that the person or statement is dishonest and tries to trick others by giving false information.
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See It in Action
Describing a person who lies often or is untruthful
- •The politician gave a mendacious speech to hide the truth.
- •She was known for her mendacious behavior, always twisting facts.
- •His mendacious answers made it hard to believe anything he said.
Describing statements or information that are false or dishonest
- •The report was full of mendacious claims that misled readers.
- •Mendacious advertising tricks customers into buying bad products.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "mendacious" like "lying," but a more formal and strong word used for serious dishonesty.
- ✓Picture a person telling a story that is clearly not true, like a character in a movie who tricks others.
- ✓It feels like the disappointment or distrust you feel when you find out someone has lied to you.
- ✓Sounds like "men-DAY-shus" → Imagine a man saying "Day" but changing the story every day to trick people.
- ✓In stories, a mendacious character often causes problems because others cannot trust them.
- ✓NOT like "mistaken" (wrong by accident), mendacious means purposely telling lies.
- ✓NOT like "honest" (telling the truth), mendacious is the opposite—intentionally untruthful.
- ✓NOT like "confused" (not understanding), mendacious means knowing the truth but saying false things anyway.
Try Other Words
- •Dishonest: not truthful or fair (Use when you want a broader meaning including lying and cheating)
- •Untruthful: not telling the truth (Use in formal or polite contexts)
- •False: not true or real (Use when referring to statements or information, not people)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "men-" (no clear meaning here, part of root)
- •Root: from Latin "mendax" meaning "lying" or "false"
- •Suffix: "-ious" makes it an adjective meaning "full of" or "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "mendax" (liar, false) + English adjective suffix "-ious"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe lying or false behavior
- •Modern usage: Mostly used in formal writing or speech to describe serious lying or dishonesty
Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think people use formal words like "mendacious" instead of simple words like "lying"?
•Can mendacious behavior ever be justified, or is it always harmful? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.A mendacious person often ___ the truth to gain an advantage.
2.When a statement is mendacious, it is meant to ___ or confuse the listener.
3.Unlike a simple mistake, mendacious actions are done ___ to deceive others.
4.The politician’s mendacious speech caused many people to ___ trust in him.
5.Mendacious stories are different from honest ones because they ___ facts.
6.When someone is mendacious, you can expect them to ___ important details.
7.Mendacious behavior often leads to ___ and broken relationships.