1
as in truthful
being in the habit of telling the truth
at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk
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3
as in ethical
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
an honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change
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4
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good
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5
as in candid
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear
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6
as in conscientious
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong
made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria
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7
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed
a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of honest
Covering the zoo fosters a better understanding of wildlife and conservation and, to be honest, brings pride and joy to our audiences.
—
Terry Demio, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2025
To me that’s so beautiful and unique and honest.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
That's up to us to be honest about why that continues to happen and stop perpetuating that cycle of failure.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2025
Don’t be paranoid, just be honest with yourself (and your wallet).
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for honest
Terry Demio, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2025
To me that’s so beautiful and unique and honest.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
That's up to us to be honest about why that continues to happen and stop perpetuating that cycle of failure.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2025
Don’t be paranoid, just be honest with yourself (and your wallet).
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
-
The lawsuit argued, among other things, that SEPTA is not being truthful about its finances.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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The idea was to be as local as possible, as universal as possible and to be truthful to Corsica as well, Basterga added.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That would be the honest, fair and honorable thing to do.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This reversal deeply disrespects every honorable soldier who's had our Stars and Stripes draped over their casket as Taps play in the background.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In early August, the Daily Caller reported more ethical concerns.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Boone and Crockett Club is a leading voice for ethical, legal, and restrained hunting in North America, and often recalls that managed, legal hunting is responsible for the return of depleted wildlife populations in America a century ago.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Algorithmic Literacy requires genuine technical comprehension of AI capabilities, constraints, and ethical implications.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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But despite a certain staginess, and a tendency for the plot to suddenly stop to make way for the acting, Hedda is actually a genuine attempt to mine something new from the old text, a compelling fusion of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The stand-up comedian has previously been candid about her experience with postpartum depression.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Blair, who’s hilariously candid in her interviews, showed up late on set and refused to don the same makeup from the first movie.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Younger adults in particular are less conscientious, agreeable, extroverted and open to new experiences than past generations, while neuroticism — marked by anxiety and emotional instability — is rising.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
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Most of the traits that are good, like being conscientious and agreeable are also cool, but in different capacities.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Candy didn’t wear that particular internal organ on his sleeve so much as model whole outfits made out of it, and the sheer abundance of his authentic niceness is I Like Me‘s prime running motif.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
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But as long as buyers like Mao Mao are around with money to spend on cute – if not authentic – Labubu, the market for fakes could be around for some time yet.—
Haicen Yang,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And especially with the other unknowns in the starting rotation, a reliable King changes the dynamic of how the Padres can navigate a postseason series.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
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Backed by Uniper, ABB, OKG, and the Royal Institute of Technology, Blykalla is poised to deliver Europe’s first advanced SMR for reliable, sustainable energy in AI and clean industries.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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