Definition of honestnext
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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 These jobs exist because technology created them was always more honest. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026 But ultimately one that brought us a lot closer and opened the door to this more honest relationship between us. Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026 An honest president and a responsible Congress would put a quick stop to the corruption. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026 Jill's memoir, however, paints a much more honest picture of Joe's concern regarding his poor performance. Emma Banks, InStyle, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
  • The work lies in making that interface feel truthful rather than contrived.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • And without liability, even thorough auditors won’t be able to identify whether a business’s claims about AI are truthful.
    Suvrat Dhanorkar, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • Congratulations to the honorable so-and-so.
    Rafael Perez, Daily News, 25 May 2026
  • Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties each had one beach with honorable status — Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes was the LA-area beach with consistently good-quality water.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • In an era of generative AI, climate instability, and rapid technological acceleration, Panetta believes engineers must be adaptable, ethical, creative, and brave enough to take risks.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
  • Moreover, scientists took the cells without the patient’s consent, raising serious ethical questions.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • The plants and vines have grown, the tufu limestone has mellowed, the staff have bedded in, and the feel that this is a genuine Puglian village (even though it was built entirely from scratch) has been sealed.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • In this period before culture was so profoundly professionalized, populism and pluralism were genuine material questions of public participation, access, and power.
    Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • The official spoke on condition of anonymity to offer more candid remarks.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 May 2026
  • At the station, the officers processing her were captured in a candid moment that Longoria says reveals what was really happening.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Cap Rocat also aims to preserve and strengthen the natural and social environment through a conscientious selection of suppliers engaged in sustainable fishing and organic and zero-kilometer products.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • This is considered a bit of an invasive plant, but conscientious gardeners can remove or till under unwanted seedlings.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • The research also explored what positive representation in media should look like, with respondents noting a desire for authentic, multi-dimensional, and vulnerable characters that lead to positive storylines and portrayals of Black women and girls.
    Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • Built in 1834 but recently renovated, the second-floor apartment maintains all its authentic charm.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Final word Ultra professional and utterly reliable, Chiva-Som deserves every accolade.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • The malware devotes considerable attention to CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous delivery) systems, which allow for faster and more reliable software releases by automating the building, testing, and deploying of code changes.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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