Define lying.

Define lying.

• A. Withholding information.
• B. Making an assertion with the intent to deceive or mislead.
• C. Mistakenly stating something.
• D. Answering a question truthfully.

Answer: (B)

Lying is making a statement that you know is false with the intent to deceive or mislead. The key is both the claim and the purpose behind it—an assertion made to make others believe something you know isn’t true. If there’s no intent to deceive, a false statement is just a mistake, not a lie. Withholding information can be deceptive, but lying specifically hinges on knowingly presenting a falsehood to influence others. The act of answering truthfully stands in contrast to lying.

Lying is making a statement that you know is false with the intent to deceive or mislead. The key is both the claim and the purpose behind it—an assertion made to make others believe something you know isn’t true. If there’s no intent to deceive, a false statement is just a mistake, not a lie. Withholding information can be deceptive, but lying specifically hinges on knowingly presenting a falsehood to influence others. The act of answering truthfully stands in contrast to lying.