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as in false
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value dishonest appraisals of art works that were part of an elaborate scheme to defraud insurance companies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dishonest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dishonest are deceitful, mendacious, and untruthful. While all these words 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

When is deceitful a more appropriate choice than dishonest?

While the synonyms deceitful and dishonest are close in meaning, deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When might mendacious be a better fit than dishonest?

The words mendacious and dishonest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When could untruthful be used to replace dishonest?

The words untruthful and dishonest can be used in similar contexts, but untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dishonest That’s a fact, so saying otherwise is dishonest and can lead to confusion. Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 5 May 2025 Pretending otherwise is dishonest and counter-factual. Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025 The cruelty of his dishonest sham, founded on disdain for the autistic community and aimed at parents of autistic children, defies decency. Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025 Blanketing our communities with descriptions that focus solely on crime is dishonest and hinders our efforts to achieve peace, especially those of us who have survived the unthinkable loss of a loved one to murder. Clementina Chery, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • On May 30, 2025, a Pennsylvania federal court refused NFL player agent Todd France’s request to vacate a December 2023 arbitration decision which ordered France to pay over $800,000 in damages to rival agent Jason Bernstein and which excoriated France for fraudulent conduct.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • The couple were convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as tax evasion and sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively.
    Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • The couple was convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents.
    Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
  • His career was on a steady rise until a series of accusations and investigations in the mid-2000s — including tax evasion, fraud and making false statements — landed him in prison.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Those have included other deportations to third countries and the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran who had lived as a legal U.S. resident in Maryland for 14 years while working and raising a family.
    Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
  • Those have included other deportations to third countries and the erroneous deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran who had lived in Maryland for roughly 14 years working and raising a family.
    Julie Carr Smyth, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, filed a suit against ExxonMobil last year that, in part, accuses the oil giant of deceptive claims regarding chemical recycling, which the company disputes.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
  • During the defense’s cross-examination of Kid Cudi, lawyers representing Combs portrayed Ventura as deceptive of both men.
    Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Impulsive, egocentric, and mendacious, Trump has, in the same span, set fire to the integrity of his office.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Her unsettling command of the character — who was equal parts sweet, vulnerable, mendacious, and menacing — was one of the highlights of the series.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Among them is Tonic, which stars Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) as Sebastian Poe, a struggling jazz pianist who is given 24 hours to kill a dangerous drug dealer (Westwick) by a crooked cop (Jaso Coviello), and spirals into a moral and emotional tailspin.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2025
  • Cigarette smoke, dames to kill for, crooked cops — latex super suit?
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • The document discovery in those cases revealed that France had been untruthful during the NFLPA arbitration process.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • During the trial, prosecutors showed videos of the multiple interviews Troconis had with law enforcement and accused her of being untruthful about Farber Dulos’ disappearance.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Patti LuPone had a shady reaction to questions about Audra McDonald in a new interview.
    Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 27 May 2025
  • John Frankenheimer’s gritty heist flick is packed with shifting loyalties, shady motives and not one, but two, figure-skating set pieces.
    Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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