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as in false
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value dishonest appraisals of art works that were part of an elaborate scheme to defraud insurance companies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dishonest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dishonest are deceitful, mendacious, and untruthful. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

When is deceitful a more appropriate choice than dishonest?

While the synonyms deceitful and dishonest are close in meaning, deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When might mendacious be a better fit than dishonest?

The words mendacious and dishonest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

When could untruthful be used to replace dishonest?

The words untruthful and dishonest can be used in similar contexts, but untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

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 dishonest The funeral home is under investigation for willful dishonest conduct, negligence and fraud, among other charges, according to state documents. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025 However, this Republican labeling of Democrats is false, self-serving, and dishonest. Martin M. Looney, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2025 The referee agreed with Warner’s claimed mitigation factors of remorse, an absence of dishonest or selfish motive, cooperating with the proceedings and dealing with personal or emotional problems. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025 Starring Braff as Andy, the film's protagonist, and Natalie Portman as his eccentric and compulsively dishonest love interest, the film is often compared to The Graduate (1967), but remains a singular romantic comedy that demands an emotional reaction from its audience. James Mercadante, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • To be fair, that number is slightly misleading.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But the content, murky and misleading, is designed to trick Californians into voting for a power grab.
    Laura Koval, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The notion that vaccines cause autism was born out of a fraudulent 1998 study, hypothesizing that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine caused intestinal inflammation, which, in turn, led to the development of autism.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • All her fraudulent welfare handouts ceased in January 2025.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Bondi’s appearance on Fox News comes days after Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on two of three counts sought by prosecutors, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, according to documents.
    Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Criminal court records reviewed by PEOPLE show the 35-year-old faces charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and a false report.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Vedra and other debt law experts said a high rate of default judgments indicates a system that favors the pursuers over the pursued — and increases the chances someone will be harmed by an erroneous bill.
    Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • And in 2010’s Flash Crash, algorithmic trading bots created a feedback loop of erroneous trades, wiping out nearly $1 trillion in market value in minutes.
    Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Specifically, the four customers argued that Hershey's violated Florida Deceptive And Unfair Trade Practices Act, which is designed to protect Floridians from unfair competition, deceptive acts and unethical practices.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
  • In recent years, users have increasingly been taking to court to challenge allegedly deceptive practices by Amazon.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At Comedy Central, Colbert rose to prominence playing a slightly exaggerated version of Bill O’Reilly and other unapologetically mendacious Fox News pundits from the George W. Bush years.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
  • The true story reveals both how freedom of speech first came to be conceived of as a mechanism for truth, an antidote to falsehood, and the foundation of all liberty—and that, ironically, this new and powerful theory was itself a deliberately mendacious fiction.
    Fara Dabhoiwala, Harpers Magazine, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Holmes' take on her grand entrance as Joey Potter got big laughs, with the actress immediately crossing her arms, slouching her shoulders and making a crooked face.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The family had no money for doctors, and the arm healed crooked, forever limiting his reach and range of motion.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Officers making contact with Hyatt noted an odor of intoxicants, staggering gait, confusion and illogical, untruthful responses to questions, according to the motion.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The deficient vice of integrity is being fake, untruthful, inconsistent, unprincipled, and manipulative.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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