pseudologue

Definition

A pathological liar

Etymology

From Latin pseudologus (“liar”), from Ancient Greek ψευδολόγος (pseudológos, “speaking falsely, lying”). Equivalent to pseudo- + -logue.

Example Sentences

• "1996, Charles V Ford Lies! Lies!! Lies!!! http://print.google.com/print?id=_FSc5C2bFYUC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&sig=65p2wlZfcRu3nutVAX-2YsZv2tk Unlike a delusional psychotic person, the pseudologue will abandon the story or change it if confronted with contradictory evidence or sufficient disbelief."
• "1997, Alan J. Cunnien, “Psychiatric and Medical Syndromes Associated with Deception,” in Clinical Assessment of Malingering and Deception, Richard Rogers ed. http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=YZ6uK4Cjd_MC&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&sig=U2ylaYiNPRuZhU8c6xYEif8SV8E Unlike the common braggart, however, the pseudologue falsifies a substantial amount of information with bearing upon activities, acquaintances, or personal identity."
• "2004, Ralph Keyes, The Post-Truth Era http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=eKRyyOIJgqQC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&sig=Mu90a_dMEhkqCOXth_drbJZhk3s Even a grandiose pseudologue, he writes, must be evaluated carefully to see if he is a compulsive liar or simply “someone for whom truth is temporarily unavailable.”"