fallacy

[fal-uh-see] / ˈfæl ə si /

NOUN

illusion, misconception

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deception falsehood heresy inconsistency misinterpretation paradox untruth

STRONG

aberration ambiguity artifice bias casuistry cavil deceit deceptiveness delusion deviation elusion equivocation erratum erroneousness error evasion faultiness flaw illogicality inexactness invalidity misapprehension miscalculation misconstrual mistake notion perversion preconception prejudice quirk solecism sophism sophistry speciousness subterfuge

WEAK

non sequitur quibbling

Antonyms

STRONGEST

truth

STRONG

accuracy certainty conformity correction directness facing fairness frankness honesty meeting openness reality sameness truthfulness

WEAK

evidence fact right surety

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One tenacious fallacy about Shakespeare is that his speeches are always clotted with gargantuan words; Macbeth’s “multitudinous seas incarnadine” is a classic example.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The sunk-cost fallacy tempts people to pay escalating premiums because they’ve paid for so long.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

The promise is that we can shape behavior; the fallacy is that the power rarely reaches beyond cosmetic concessions.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2025

And as long as we believe in this fallacy of separation, that’s going to continue.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025

Had it not been exposed long ago as a fallacy?

From "1984" by George Orwell

Vocabulary lists containing fallacy

Argumentative Writing

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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

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Power Suffix: -acy

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