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an honest effort
a genuine effort
a sincere effort
an authentic effort
an earnest effort
a heartfelt effort
honest work
earnest work
genuine work
an honest answer
a truthful answer
a genuine answer
an accurate answer
a frank answer
honest communication
open communication
transparent communication
heartfelt communication
upfront communication
clear communication

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective honest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of honest are conscientious, honorable, just, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

How do conscientious and scrupulous relate to one another, in the sense of honest?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

When would honorable be a good substitute for honest?

The meanings of honorable and honest largely overlap; however, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

Where would just be a reasonable alternative to honest?

While the synonyms just and honest are close in meaning, just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

When might upright be a better fit than honest?

The words upright and honest can be used in similar contexts, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

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 honest Chicago hosted the 9-10 game last year and, to be honest, the atmosphere was pretty intense as White torched the Atlanta Hawks with 42 points. Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 Log in Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive. Jackie Valley, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Apr. 2025 Vara is an appealing narrator—smart, funny, honest, and a little neurotic. Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025 This creates space for honest expression and nurtures trust rather than dependency. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
  • The outspoken mother, who has clashed with Rock in the past, quickly went on to reiterate her desire for Blueface to enter a relationship with rap star Megan Thee Stallion, a hope that she’s expressed on previous occasions.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But several of the most outspoken opponents of the Senate resolution said they either weren't invited to the meeting or declined to attend.
    Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Of course, Greg/Gary is an honorable guy who would never bankrupt Belinda to teach her a lesson about greed and blackmail.
    Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Some Union soldiers attended the event, and two Union officers delivered orations, each focusing on the topic of reconciliation between the honorable foes.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Many organizations are actively working on ethical AI frameworks to address bias and ensure fair, transparent decision-making processes.
    Chaitanya Laxminarayana, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Maintaining an open dialogue around these issues is necessary to balance rapid technological advancement with crucial ethical and societal considerations.
    Francis Hellyer, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a moment of genuine courage and growth, but it can be dismissed as snitching by viewers who can’t see past her overconfidence from several hours ago.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Between the lines: Paxton is a genuine Trump ally and is eager to hit Cornyn for being a Washington establishment figure rather than true MAGA.
    Stef W. Kight, Axios, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • At the heart of every biography, though, lies a lacuna—something unknowable, no matter how candid or heavily documented the subject, no matter how familiar or diligent the biographer.
    Casey Cep, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • For the first time, band members Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, and Jon Moss come together to share their complete story, offering candid insights into their creative process, personal relationships, and the cultural impact that defined a generation.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That dissonance is a function of how eating less meat has been wrapped in a conscientious and moral sheen.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Emily is a conscientious worker who is constantly evaluating her performance and setting ever higher goals.
    Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Throw in two kids and a wife to care for, there’s undeniably a lot going on, but in a way that Kota says keeps him focused and motivated on creating authentic music and an authentic life.
    Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 13 Apr. 2025
  • This purity translates to a cleaner taste and a more authentic representation of the strain’s flavor profile.
    Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone ruled Tuesday morning that Read’s defense team — and particularly attorney Alan Jackson — had not been entirely open and truthful about its dealings with two witnesses from last year’s trial.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Meta has called upon Apple and Google to take responsibility for age verification at the app store level since these companies already have the age of children whose parents have set up a child account for their device or from teens that set up their own accounts and were truthful about their age.
    Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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