What does untruly mean?
Untruly means difficult or impossible to control, especially when describing the behavior of people or the character of a crowd. It can function as an adjective, often in predicative constructions such as "the children became untruly," and less commonly as an adverb, as in "the crowd behaved untruly." The word is closely associated with disorder, disobedience, and conduct that exceeds acceptable limits. It may also appear in more formal expressions such as "untruly violent," where it characterizes behavior or an organization as excessively or dangerously violent. Although unruly is a close synonym and is often more familiar in everyday use, untruly has a somewhat formal or literary tone. Its meaning should not be confused with untrue, which describes something false rather than something uncontrolled. Untruly is especially useful in writing about public disorder, institutional discipline, and social behavior.
Difficult or impossible to control or manage; disorderly or unmanageable.
"The increasingly untruly crowd ignored several warnings from the police."
Commonly used predicatively, but it can also modify a noun in more formal writing.
In an untruly manner; in a way that is disorderly or beyond proper control.
"The students behaved untruly throughout the assembly."
Less frequent than the adjectival use and somewhat formal in tone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does untruly come from?
Untruly was formed historically from the prefix un- and truly. The prefix un- here contributes a sense of negation or reversal, while truly is derived from true with the adverb-forming suffix -ly. In established usage, the word means disorderly or beyond proper control, rather than simply "not truly."
Related word forms
How untruly is actually used
Untruly is most natural as a predicative adjective, as in "the crowd became untruly," although it can also be used before a noun. Its adverbial use is less frequent and sounds more formal or literary. In everyday speech, unruly is often the more natural choice.
Easily confused with untruly
Untruly describes conduct or conditions that are disorderly or beyond control, while unruly more specifically describes people or things that persistently resist control.
Untruly means uncontrolled or disorderly, whereas untrue means false or inaccurate.