Definition of dishonestnext
1
2
3
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 The case, which has only recently come to the attention of POST officials, highlights the limits of state oversight even after lawmakers passed significant police reform aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026 In Virginia the governor ran one of the most dishonest, disingenuous campaigns in modern history on redistricting. NBC news, 3 May 2026 Californians created the Department of Insurance to protect consumers against dishonest terms and unfair pricing. Ben Allen, Oc Register, 2 May 2026 Overall, Savitt’s tactics have elicited responses that The Verge reported made Musk appear dishonest and hot-tempered to the jury. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • In the case that led to the large sanction, Quinn Emanuel’s client Natera needed to show that science backed up the advertising statements its rival Guardant alleged were false and misleading, Chen noted in his order.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
  • Job descriptions are too rigid and titles are often misleading and neither tends to truly capture what people actually do.
    Keith Ferrazzi, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • The fraudulent wagers resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in profits for bettors, prosecutors said.
    Tom Winter, NBC news, 28 May 2026
  • Those include persuading a critical number of merchants to accept payments from agents, while also determining who is responsible for failed and fraudulent transactions.
    Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
  • In January, Roberts pleaded guilty to making a false statement for employment and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm while being in the country illegally.
    Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • That assumption is erroneous—and dangerous.
    David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • Technology should be developed to track the same digital paths that erroneous content traveled, correcting the record along the way.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • What happens when a shopping agent follows a prompt, buys from a deceptive merchant and the virtual card protects the primary account but not the customer’s time or money?
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
  • For these commemorative watches, Aeschlimann thought white ceramic was appropriate not only because of the color, but because of the material’s deceptive toughness.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.
    Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Falter struggled, but he also wasn’t helped by a replay review that helped the Yankees put up a crooked number in the first inning.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
  • The storybook structure has a pointed roof, crooked chimney, and the general appearance of something out of a Brothers Grimm illustration.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • Since 2019, state law has required law enforcement agencies that employ POST certificate holders to notify the board if a certificate holder knowingly made an untruthful statement during an internal affairs investigation, among other circumstances.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
  • These questions were raised after reporting by The New York Times in August 2024 regarding Moore’s untruthful claims about receiving the Bronze Star in Afghanistan — a story originally reported on in 2022 by FOX45’s Mikenzie Frost.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dishonest

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster