disingenuous
adjective
dis·in·gen·u·ous
ˌdis-in-ˈjen-yə-wəs 
-yü-əs
: lacking in candor
also
: giving a false appearance of simple frankness : calculating
disingenuously
adverb
disingenuousness
noun
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A disingenuous remark might contain some superficial truth, but it is delivered with the intent to deceive or to serve some hidden purpose. Its base word ingenuous (derived from a Latin adjective meaning "native" or "freeborn") can describe someone who, like a child, is innocent or lacking guile or craftiness. English speakers began frequently joining the negative prefix dis- with ingenuous to create disingenuous during the 17th century.
Examples of disingenuous in a Sentence
"It's had nine murders since 1937—about the same as you would get in many small towns." This was correct, but a wee disingenuous. The AT [Appalachian Trail] had no murders in its first thirty-six years and nine in the past twenty-two.
—
Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods, 1999
… and he egged Badger on, asking a disingenuous question about the antivivisection rally in Cleveland, and as Badger took the thought up and chewed it over, the Doctor made as if to excuse himself.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, The Road to Wellville, 1993
… he has a disingenuous way of resorting to slang when he wants to make a big point but is afraid of sounding pretentious.
—Karen Schoemer, New York Times Book Review, 31 Oct. 1993
Unity is at best an ideal, at worst a disingenuous political slogan.
—Salman Rushdie, The Independent on Sunday, 25 Nov. 1990
Her recent expressions of concern are self-serving and disingenuous.
Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods, 1999
… and he egged Badger on, asking a disingenuous question about the antivivisection rally in Cleveland, and as Badger took the thought up and chewed it over, the Doctor made as if to excuse himself.
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, The Road to Wellville, 1993
… he has a disingenuous way of resorting to slang when he wants to make a big point but is afraid of sounding pretentious.
—Karen Schoemer, New York Times Book Review, 31 Oct. 1993
Unity is at best an ideal, at worst a disingenuous political slogan.
—Salman Rushdie, The Independent on Sunday, 25 Nov. 1990
Her recent expressions of concern are self-serving and disingenuous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the past few years, these disingenuous arguments have gotten more and more popular.
—Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025
Short, balding and deeply insecure, the embittered Hart (Ethan Hawke) offers some disingenuous congratulations, but can’t mask his contempt for Rodgers’ new writing partner and their swoony, uncynical show.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
But dismissing the rise in antisemitism as mere policing of speech about Israel is disingenuous and dangerous.
—Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
But these small decisions aren’t actually a disingenuous way of leading, Chamorro-Premuzic noted.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disingenuous
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Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025
Short, balding and deeply insecure, the embittered Hart (Ethan Hawke) offers some disingenuous congratulations, but can’t mask his contempt for Rodgers’ new writing partner and their swoony, uncynical show.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
But dismissing the rise in antisemitism as mere policing of speech about Israel is disingenuous and dangerous.
—Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
But these small decisions aren’t actually a disingenuous way of leading, Chamorro-Premuzic noted.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disingenuous
Cite this Entry
“Disingenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disingenuous. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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