liar
person who tells lies
A person who says things that are not true, usually on purpose.
[someone] is a liar
- I can’t trust him anymore; he’s a liar.
- The politician was called a liar after the facts came out.
- She swore she hadn’t taken the money, but everyone knew she was a liar.
- Nobody wants to work with a known liar in the team.
- He hates being called a liar, even when someone is just joking.
- Tom is a liar, so I do not believe him.
- She said she was at home, but that was not true; she is a liar.
- I do not want to be friends with a liar.
- They found out he was a liar and felt very sad.
- If you are a liar, people will not trust you.
barefaced liar
1shameless and obvious liar
A person who lies in a very open and shameless way.
- He looked the reporter in the eye and denied everything, proving himself a barefaced liar.
- Only a barefaced liar could claim that nothing went wrong during that project.
big fat liar
1strong insult meaning obvious liar
A very strong and emotional way to call someone a liar, often used by children or in jokes.
- You told me you finished the report, but you didn’t—you’re a big fat liar!
- The kids shouted, "You’re a big fat liar!" when they found out the story wasn’t true.
born liar
1person who seems naturally dishonest
A person who seems to lie very easily, as if they were always like that from the start.
- He’s a born liar; he can make anything sound believable.
- My grandmother says my uncle is a born liar who could talk his way out of anything.
compulsive liar
1person who lies repeatedly by habit
A person who lies again and again because they feel a strong need or habit to lie.
- She described her ex-boyfriend as a compulsive liar who could never tell a straight story.
- If he is a compulsive liar, it will be hard for you to know when he is honest.
compulsive liar
1Habitual uncontrolled liar
A compulsive liar is someone who lies again and again and finds it hard to stop.
- After years of excuses, she realized he was a compulsive liar.
- The article describes him as a compulsive liar who invented stories about his past.
- It is hard to rebuild trust when people think you are a compulsive liar.
inveterate liar
1long-term, deeply rooted liar
A person who has lied for many years and is very unlikely to stop lying.
- The article described the fraudster as an inveterate liar with decades of scams behind him.
- By that point, his reputation as an inveterate liar was firmly established.
liar, liar, pants on fire
1childish chant accusing someone of lying
A children’s phrase shouted at someone when you think they are lying.
- The kids laughed and shouted, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" when their friend claimed he could fly.
- She teased her brother with, "Liar, liar, pants on fire," after he told an obvious lie.
pathological liar
1person who lies compulsively
A person who lies all the time, even when there is no clear reason to lie.
- Everyone in the office says he’s a pathological liar and you should double-check everything he says.
- The therapist suggested that her brother might be a pathological liar because he invents stories about almost everything.
habitual liar
1person who lies regularly
A person who tells lies again and again as a normal part of their behavior.
- Everyone in the office knows he’s a habitual liar.
- The judge noted that the witness was a habitual liar with a long history of dishonesty.
- The journalist described the dictator as a habitual liar who could not be trusted.
- Once you are known as a habitual liar, it is very hard to change people’s minds.
- I avoid sharing personal information with habitual liars.