outright false

USAGE SUMMARY

"outright false" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that is completely false and not even partially true. For example, you could say, "His claim that he had never lied was outright false, as it was proven he had lied multiple times in the past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

This is not merely misleading, it is outright false.

The New York Times

The problem is that much of what they hear is misleading if not outright false.

The New York Times

But these claim are highly misleading, and in some cases outright false.

The Guardian - Opinion

There will be the usual statements, which often turn out to be misleading or outright false, from official spokespeople.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cross-examined by Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, Mr Ruff conceded that reasonable people might think the president's testimony not just misleading but outright false.

The Economist

He has also made what PolitiFact judged to be outright false statements in the last Republican debate about his ties to a nutritional-supplement company.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Since Occupy began Fox News hosts, show after obnoxious show, cast aspersions at the group including: name calling, outright lies, false comparisons, misrepresentations, selective reporting, and derision.

Huffington Post

Alan Garten, Trump's general counsel, addressed a letter to Club for Growth President David McIntosh calling the ads "completely disingenuous" and "replete with outright lies, false, defamatory and destructive statements and downright fabrications which you fully know to be untrue".

Huffington Post

The great preponderance of this so-called truth is a confection of outright lies not merely false but, more perniciously, a form of unreality, imposed with such relentlessness and violence on a people hermetically sealed from any alternative sources of information that it has become their only reality.

The New Yorker

"These outright ― and false ― denials from President Trump are straight out of the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby playbook," the statement continues.

Huffington Post

Twitter was essentially the last holdout among a throng of social media platforms — including Facebook and YouTube — that had stopped allowing Jones and Infowars from peddling what many believed not just to be "fake news", but outright damaging and dangerous false information.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outright false" to express that a statement is not just inaccurate but entirely untrue and possibly intentionally deceptive.

Common error

While "outright false" is acceptable in most contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like "categorically false" or "demonstrably false" in highly formal or academic writing to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright false" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, used to describe something as entirely untrue. It emphasizes the complete lack of truthfulness. Ludwig confirms this phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outright false" is a commonly used and grammatically correct adjectival phrase that emphatically declares something as completely untrue. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and utility. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts where objective truth is crucial. While it can be used broadly, more formal alternatives might be preferable in highly academic or professional settings. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the complete untruthfulness of the subject matter. Be mindful of potentially more suitable options like "blatantly false" or "completely untrue" depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely untrue

Emphasizes the total lack of truth, similar to "outright false" but with a slightly more neutral tone.

blatantly false

Highlights the obviousness of the falsehood, suggesting it's easily detected.

categorically false

Implies a strong and unambiguous denial of truth.

patently untrue

Stresses the undeniable nature of the falsehood.

absolutely false

Reinforces the completeness of the falsehood, leaving no room for doubt.

totally incorrect

A more general term indicating a lack of correctness, not specifically deceit.

demonstrably false

Suggests that the falsehood can be proven through evidence.

pure fabrication

Implies that the statement is entirely invented or made up.

downright lie

Highlights the deceptive intent behind the statement.

utterly baseless

Focuses on the lack of any foundation or support for the statement.

FAQs

How to use "outright false" in a sentence?

You can use "outright false" to describe statements or claims that are completely untrue. For example, "His claim about working at Google was "outright false".".

What can I say instead of "outright false"?

You can use alternatives like "completely untrue", "blatantly false", or "categorically false" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "outright false" or "misleading"?

"Outright false" indicates a statement is completely untrue, while "misleading" suggests it may be partially true but presented in a way that leads to a wrong conclusion. The choice depends on the accuracy and intent of the statement.

What's the difference between "outright false" and "fake news"?

"Outright false" is a general descriptor for untrue statements. "Fake news" refers specifically to deliberately fabricated news articles intended to deceive and misinform.