sincere

adjective

sin·​cere sin-ˈsir How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sən-
sincerer; sincerest
1
a
: free of dissimulation : honest
a sincere interest
b
: free from adulteration : pure
a sincere doctrine
sincere wine
2
: marked by genuineness : true
sincereness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sincere

sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned mean genuine in feeling.

sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Examples of sincere in a Sentence

He sounded sincere in his promises. She seemed sincere in her commitment to finish school. She has a sincere interest in painting. He showed a sincere concern for her health. He made a sincere attempt to quit smoking. Please accept our sincere thanks.
Recent Examples on the Web Although this album captures a lot of painful moments, it also is woven together with a through line of deep, sincere love. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Baker chose not to shrug off this accusation, insisting that Monica's grief over Fabio's murder was intense and sincere. Greg Fisher, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 What Deloitte has clearly understood is that social impact programs require a sincere commitment that must be matched by resources and engagement at all levels of the company. Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Audiences warmed to the ad, too, praising its campy yet sincere message. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this difficult time. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Feb. 2024 The Republican Party, of course, still has many experts, and there is sincere internal debate within the GOP about whether some form of isolationism or restraint is preferable to the party’s more traditionally hawkish stance. Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Eagle eyed viewers also spotted, just before the telecast ended, the two sharing what looked like a sincere embrace onstage. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024 Their interests seem to have been at once sincere and insidiously self-serving. Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sincere.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin sincerus whole, pure, genuine, probably from sem- one + -cerus (akin to Latin crescere to grow) — more at same, crescent

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sincere was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near sincere

Cite this Entry

“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sincere. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sincere

adjective
sin·​cere sin-ˈsi(ə)r How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sincerer; sincerest
1
: trustworthy, straightforward
a sincere friend
2
: genuine sense 1, real
a sincere interest in painting
sincerely adverb
sincerity
-ˈser-ət-ē
-ˈsir-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sincere

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