Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.

Perjury

Falsehood

The most appropriate synonym of the given word perjury is falsehood.

• Perjury is the act of lying under oath.
• Falsehood is a statement that is not true.

The two words are similar in that they both suggest the idea of something that is not true. However, the word perjury has a more specific meaning that is focused on lying under oath, while the word falsehood has a more general meaning that is focused on any statement that is not true.

In the sentence "The witness committed perjury when he lied under oath," the speaker is not just saying that the witness lied, but that the witness lied under oath, which is a serious offense. Therefore, the word "falsehood" is the most appropriate synonym for the word "perjury" in this context.

The other words on the list are not as appropriate synonyms for perjury. The word melancholy means sadness or gloominess. The word frankness means honesty or candor. The word penury means poverty or lack of money. These words do not convey the same sense of something that is not true as the word perjury.