dishonest

adjective

dis·hon·est (ˌ)dis-ˈä-nəst

also (ˌ)diz-

Synonyms of dishonest next

obsolete : shameful, unchaste

: characterized by lack of truth, honesty, or trustworthiness : unfair, deceptive

dishonestly adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for dishonest

dishonest, deceitful, mendacious, untruthful mean unworthy of trust or belief.

dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

Examples of dishonest in a Sentence

She gave dishonest answers to our questions. I think he is being dishonest about how much he knows

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Because there are five meaningful ways that honest messaging beats dishonest marketing. —

Drew Gerber, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Whereas John Kerry at his convention had struggled to create meaning—no matter how stupid, dishonest, or clichéd—George Bush seemed to be plotting its demise. —

Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 Nothing about it feels the least bit real, but nothing about it feels dishonest either. —

David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024 Fraudulent Practices In the most extreme cases, dishonest actors may engage in outright fraudulent activities. —

Elie Y. Katz, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dishonest