dissemble

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 14, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>dissemble</strong> &#149; \dih-SEM-bul\&nbsp; &#149; <em>verb</em><br /> <p><em>Dissemble</em> is a formal word that means “to conceal facts, feelings, or intentions with deceptive explanations, reasons, etc.” It's frequently used as a gentler way to say “lie.”</p> <p>// The board's members have lost all confidence in the organization's leader because she has repeatedly <em>dissembled</em> about basic facts about the organization's financial status.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissemble">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>“If past testimony is any guide, … the CEOs will <em>dissemble</em> and promise to follow up with better answers to any question they do not want to answer in front of cameras.” — Roger McNamee, <em>Wired</em>, 23 Mar. 2021</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>We have nothing to hide: <em>dissemble</em> (from the Latin verb <em>dissimulāre</em>, meaning “to disguise the identity of”) stresses the intent to deceive others, especially about facts, feelings, or intentions. Most often found in formal or literary speech and writing, <em>dissemble</em> also implies that the facts, feelings, or intentions someone is attempting to conceal could land that person in <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20water">hot water</a> if discovered, as when a politician dissembles at a press conference when faced with questions about a recent scandal. Typical use notwithstanding, it’s perfectly fine to bust out <em>dissemble</em> in less formal contexts and conversations. Just be careful not to confuse <em>dissemble</em> with <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disassemble"><em>disassemble</em></a>, which means “to take apart.”</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>