Have you ever met someone who doesn’t seem to get along well with truth? You know, that person whose stories don’t quite match up and whose promises seem to vanish like they’re made of sand?
At times, you may be searching for the right words to describe these folks who have a strange talent for twisting the truth. Let’s explore the words that highlight this behavior and the people who often display it.
9 Words That Describe Someone Who Lies All the Time
- Pathological liar
- Compulsive liar
- Fibber
- Fabricator
- Prevaricator
- Fabulist
- Habitual liar
- Chronic liar
- Lies like a rug
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Someone who lies all the time may be a pathological liar or compulsive liar, often lying without clear motive or gain.
- A fibber tells minor untruths, while a fabricator creates elaborate lies with specific intentions.
- Prevaricators avoid the truth through evasion, distinguishing them from those who fabricate detailed lies.
5 Best Terms to Describe Someone Who Lies All the Time
The English language has specific terms to label these constant providers of falsehoods. From casual storytellers to those who find lying second nature, here are five terms that clearly depict individuals who consistently choose fiction over fact:
Pathological Liar
This term refers to someone who lies effortlessly and seemingly without reason. A pathological liar constantly invents stories and statements, often creating complex and detailed untruths. These lies aren’t necessarily for personal gain or to dodge consequences; instead, they come from an inborn tendency to lie.
What sets a pathological liar apart is the habitual nature of their lies. Unlike someone who might occasionally lie in specific situations, a pathological liar does so regularly, even when there’s nothing to gain.
To learn how to use “pathological liar” in a sentence, look over these examples:
“John is such a pathological liar, he keeps claiming to have climbed Mount Everest.“
“Gina is a pathological liar who often invented stories about her extravagant travels.“
“The pathological liar constantly told tales about his imaginary wealth, even when there was nothing to gain.“
“His pathological lying led him to create a complex narrative about a fake career in archaeology.“
“She was a pathological liar, constantly spinning tales about her encounters with celebrities.“
“Even though he was a pathological liar, he managed to convince people of his fictitious royal lineage.“
Compulsive Liar
A compulsive liar is also someone who feels compelled to lie, almost like it’s an involuntary act. A compulsive liar tells lies out of habit, not necessarily intending to deceive for malicious reasons.
This compulsion is deep-rooted and evident in almost all their communication. They often lie without a discernible pattern or objective, making their lies more random and widespread.
Here are a few examples of using it in conversation:
“Matt was a compulsive liar, he had a habit of lying about even the most trivial matters.“
“The compulsive liar claimed to have met the President, even though she had never left her hometown.“
“His compulsive lying was so ingrained that he lied about his age for no discernible reason.“
“Don’t believe him, he is a compulsive liar.“
Fibber
You might have heard the term “fibber” used in more light-hearted or less serious contexts. It’s often applied to people who tell white lies or insignificant untruths that are generally harmless.
The act of fibbing is common and usually driven by a desire to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to dodge minor issues.
The key difference between a fibber and more serious types of liars is the scale and impact of their lies. A fibber’s lies are small compared to the elaborate falsehoods spun by pathological or compulsive liars.
You can refer to these examples to learn how it works in a sentence:
“That fibber, often told white lies about her busy schedule to avoid social events.“
“She fibbed about her age to get a child’s discount at the movie theater.“
“The fibber pretended to love the gift, not wanting to disappoint her friend.“
“The little boy was a fibber, telling tales of dragons in the garden.“
“He was a fibber, always making up harmless excuses for his tardiness.“
Fabricator
This term highlights a person who constructs intricate, false narratives with a specific purpose or goal in mind.
Fabricators are skilled at creating believable stories intertwined with elements of truth, which aids in their deception. They often lie with a specific objective in mind, such as gaining an advantage or manipulating a situation to their benefit.
Here are a few examples of using “fabricator” in sentences:
“The fabricator concocted a story about a wealthy uncle to explain his sudden affluence.“
“As a fabricator, she crafted a detailed lie about her work experience to land the job.“
“His reputation as a fabricator was cemented when he created wild stories about his imaginary military service.“
“The politician was a fabricator who devised a complex lie about her education to gain an advantage in the election.“
“The fabricator spun a tale of an adventure that never happened to seem interesting.“
Prevaricator
A prevaricator is someone who deliberately avoids the truth or misleads by giving vague, evasive answers.
Rather than outright lies, prevaricators often sidestep the truth using ambiguous language or withholding information that would clarify matters. They are skilled in the art of deception through omission and diversion rather than through outright fabrication.
Here are a few examples that can explain the meaning and use of this word:
“Ray is such a prevaricator, instead of admitting his mistake, he gave a vague explanation.“
“The prevaricator skillfully avoided answering the question by diverting the conversation.“
“He was a prevaricator, always withholding crucial information to mislead people.“
“The prevaricator dodged questions about his qualifications with vague responses.“
In conclusion, people who consistently lie can be categorized into several groups based on their motives and behaviors. Pathological liars, compulsive liars, fibbers, fabricators, and prevaricators all have different ways of distorting the truth. It’s vital to remember that constant lying is often a symptom of deeper psychological issues. Therefore, compassion and professional help are essential when dealing with persistent liars in our lives.
