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What is another word for red herring?

Need synonyms for red herring? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Something designed to mislead to divert attention

Lacks relevance and does not pertain to the matter at hand

A departure from the subject, course, or idea at hand

A plot element or other device used to catch the audience's attention and maintain suspense

A person or thing used to mislead or lure someone into a trap

A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason

The withholding, or non-disclosure, of information

A false statement or belief

Action to confuse or conceal

A useless waste of time resulting from a deception

Information that is incorrect or untrue

A remark or passage, especially in a play that is intended to be heard only by the audience

… more ▼

Noun

Something designed to mislead to divert attention

attention-grabber

diversionary tactic

misleading clue

wild-goose chase

bread and circuses

bread and games

oldest trick in the book

course of action

sleight of hand

confidence trick

underhandedness

misrepresentation

monkey business

unscrupulousness

smoke and mirrors

confidence game

palace intrigue

false appearance

bait and switch

outward appearance

sanctimoniousness

eye-catching novelty

surreptitiousness

every trick in the book

treacherousness

bit of sharp practice

piece of deception

instrumentality

double-crossing

hypocritical talk

hypocritical behaviour

hollow pretense

false pretension

military science

irresistible bait

cunning stratagems

mode of conduct

method of working

mode of behaviour

more ❯

“However, they were uncertain as to whether it was the address of one of the suspects or a red herring.”

Noun

Lacks relevance and does not pertain to the matter at hand

Noun

A departure from the subject, course, or idea at hand

Noun

A plot element or other device used to catch the audience's attention and maintain suspense

dramatic device

narrative device

suspense device

Noun

A person or thing used to mislead or lure someone into a trap

carrot and stick

shot in the arm

motivating force

pressurization^US

centre of attention^UK

attention-grabber

attention-getter

pressurisation^UK

center of attention^US

kick up the backside

surprise attack

more ❯

Noun

A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason

ostensible reason

supposed grounds

Noun

The withholding, or non-disclosure, of information

veil of secrecy

conspiracy of silence

placing under wraps

seal of secrecy

pretentiousness

window-dressing

smoke and mirrors

window dressing

more ❯

Noun

A false statement or belief

flight of fancy

alternative fact

departure from the truth

figment of the imagination

little white lie

trumped-up story

cock and bull story

terminological inexactitude

one for the birds

piece of fiction

cock-and-bull story

misrepresentation

false statement

figment of imagination

conspiracy theory

economy with the truth

shaggy-dog story

poetic license^US

poetic licence^UK

disregard for the facts

deviation from the truth

lack of veracity

aggrandizement^US

not a true picture

aggrandisement^UK

figure of speech

prepared speech

old wivesʼ tale

misleading statement

suppressio veri

confusing statement

misapprehension

mistaken belief

fictitious story

misinterpretation

false impression

mistaken impression

castles in Spain

fool's paradise

castles in the air

castle in the air

more ❯

Noun

Action to confuse or conceal

pretentiousness

false appearance

outward appearance

smoke and mirrors

misrepresentation

window dressing

window-dressing

attractive appearance

outward display

more ❯

Noun

A useless waste of time resulting from a deception

wild-goose chase

bootless errand

wild goose chase

Noun

Information that is incorrect or untrue

misrepresentation

trumped-up story

false information

alternative fact

bending of the truth

misleading information

piece of fiction

departure from the truth

terminological inexactitude

conspiracy theory

flight of fancy

figment of the imagination

little white lie

cock and bull story

cock-and-bull story

prepared speech

misleading statement

disregard for the facts

deviation from the truth

suppressio veri

not a true picture

counterknowledge

confusing statement

media manipulation

inaccurate news

propagandizing^US

alternative facts

propagandising^UK

disinformation campaign

economy with the truth

shaggy-dog story

lack of veracity

figment of imagination

false statement

farfetched story

double entendre

quibbling routine

one for the birds

pussyfooting around

beating about the bush

incredible story

unbelievable tale

exaggerated story

poetic license^US

poetic licence^UK

mistaken belief

fictitious story

misinterpretation

rationalization^US

rationalisation^UK

unsound reasoning

twisting the facts

specious reasoning

overgeneral reasoning

castle in the air

more ❯

Noun

A remark or passage, especially in a play that is intended to be heard only by the audience

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