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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun honesty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of honesty are honor, integrity, and probity. While all these words mean "uprightness of character or action," honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.

When is honor a more appropriate choice than honesty?

While the synonyms honor and honesty are close in meaning, honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position.

When would integrity be a good substitute for honesty?

The meanings of integrity and honesty largely overlap; however, integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.

When could probity be used to replace honesty?

While in some cases nearly identical to honesty, probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

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 honesty The special earned him an Emmy for outstanding writing for a variety special and critical acclaim for its unflinching honesty. Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 May 2025 The university revoked the tenure of Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, widely known for researching honesty and ethical behavior, a university spokesperson confirmed Monday. Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 27 May 2025 And besides budget limitations, the material created a sense of urgency and honesty with the two playing off of each other’s knowledge. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 20 May 2025 This season supports play, flirtation, creative courage, and emotional honesty. Colin Bedell, Them., 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for honesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honesty
Noun
  • Even here, in an election with no clause for character, integrity and sportsmanship, Bonds couldn’t amass three-quarters of the vote.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • Yes—but only for those willing to lead with foresight and integrity.
    Kumar Abhishek Narayan, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • To catch up on his late rent, Winston talks himself into a job at We Deliver, a transportation company with a colorful clientele whose requests can’t help but loosen one’s morality.
    The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Regardless of their personal morality, the jurors are going to have a negative view of Mr. Combs, no question.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • The prestigious honor, which celebrates their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact, will be presented during the live broadcast on June 9.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 29 May 2025
  • The department was then renamed in his honor in 2021, per The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Chloe is successful, tightly wound and over-calculating to the extent that doubting her sincerity is unavoidable.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
  • Read: The sincerity and absurdity of Hollywood’s best action franchise As a grand valediction to a long-running storyline, the self-reflexiveness makes some sense.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • By virtue of its basic conceit — after narrowly escaping a disaster with the help of a premonition, a group of people are stalked and killed by Death itself — almost all of these movies end with a high body count and no one making it out alive.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 22 May 2025
  • This is based on mutual respect for each other’s virtues and character.
    Gregg D. Caruso, The Conversation, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Testimony about Proctor’s text messages comes as Read’s team has spent weeks attempting to sow doubt about the reliability of evidence presented by prosecutors, in an effort to distance Read from O’Keefe’s death.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 June 2025
  • Wholesale Trade-Offs And DTC Gaps Department stores were once synonymous with reach, reliability, premium customer service and validation (especially the kind of reputational validation that designers crave).
    Adam Ayers, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • The slim-fit, waist-length tank has an aesthetically-pleasing no-seam construction that doesn’t chafe against your skin (thank goodness!), and looks polished enough to throw on and go.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2025
  • The film is at its strongest when intimately keeping its lens on Aisha’s tangible struggles, while organically contextualizing the modest instances of goodness in her life in contrast with the dire political backdrop of the region.
    Tomris Laffly, Variety, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • This, along with Stoke’s physicality and directness, gave them a point of difference — something nobody else had.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Communicate Without Fear – Embrace transparency, directness and empathy.
    Russell P. Reeder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Honesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honesty. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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