half-truthˈhalf-truth noun [countable] 
Examples
His replies were full of evasions and half-truths.
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Forbes' book on Bonham is littered with half-truths, and, in some cases, outright lies.
- McCarthy's blend of half-truths and lies ruined many careers in government and the professions.
- The article is full of lies and half-truths.
- As more than half the population do not pay income tax this is at best only a half-truth.
- As was the case a century ago, each side of this argument is articulating an important half-truth.
- He loved to use gossip, half-truths, and lies to separate friends and to destroy relationships.
- If we go back now, we will go back with only half-truths.
- They are fiercely secretive and of their own choice inhabit a dim world of ambiguity and half-truths.
- Those who do not will remain awash in half-truths, outright deceptions and fraud.
- Unsubstantiated half-truths and distortions of fact cause unnecessary argument and are an inefficient use of people's time.
- You risk hugely compounding the problem by getting caught in half-truths.
Longman Language Activatorsomething untrue that is said or written► lie
a statement that is only partly true, especially one that is intended to keep something secret: something that you say which you know is not true: · Jim said that he was planning to stay home and watch TV, but I knew it was a lie.lie about: · How can the newspapers print all these lies about her?a pack of lies (=so many lies that you feel shocked or angry): · He called the report "a pack of lies".a bald-faced/an outright/a downright lie (=a clear and shocking lie): · Davenport said the congressman's allegations were nothing more than "downright lies".
► white lie a lie that does not harm anyone, especially one that is told in order to avoid hurting someone's feelings: · It's just a little white lie. No real harm done.· I told him his suit looked wonderful, which was a white lie.· "I'm sorry I couldn't come. I had a really bad headache," she explained, resorting to a white lie.
► fib informal a lie, especially one that is not very important: · You're not telling me a fib, are you?fib about: · I had to make up some fib about why I was late.
► falsehood formal an untrue statement or story, especially one that has been carefully and deliberately invented to give people the wrong idea about someone or something: · Mudge, in a written statement Wednesday, said the article was a collection of "falsehoods and misinformation".spread a falsehood: · Why Campbell had chosen to spread such a falsehood is a mystery.
► half-truth a statement that is almost a lie because it does not tell the whole truth about something: · McCarthy's blend of half-truths and lies ruined many careers in government and the professions.· Forbes' book on Bonham is littered with half-truths, and, in some cases, outright lies.
► misinformation incorrect information, especially information that is deliberately intended to deceive people: · According to Kramer, the Internet is a storehouse of lies and misinformation.misinformation about: · "For months, the Democrats have run television commercials filled with misinformation about the Republican Party," said Dawson.
► disinformation false information which is given deliberately in order to hide the truth or confuse people, especially in political situations: · The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the report as "disinformation".disinformation about: · Logan said government agents are still spreading disinformation about leaders of the political reform movement.
► propaganda false or partly false information that is spread by a government or political organization, in order to make people support and agree with their political aims and beliefs: · Propaganda is a tool of war.Communist/US etc propaganda: · Radio Marti is still there, spewing its US propaganda across the waters toward Cuba.propaganda campaign (=an organized plan to spread propaganda): · In Najaf, Khomeini had begun a propaganda campaign against the Shah.anti-Western/anti-Communist/anti-Labour etc propaganda: · a piece of anti-Communist propaganda
► smear campaign when people tell lies about someone in the newspapers, on television etc, in order to make people have a bad opinion of that person: mount a smear campaign against somebody: · The Labour Party mounted a smear campaign against Livingstone before the election.
His replies were full of evasions and half-truths.