Definition of dishonestnext
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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 His judgments about the characters—both famous and obscure—who mattered in this low, dishonest era are always persuasive. Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026 At the same time, my husband and I have always tried to parent as a team, and keeping something like this from him feels dishonest. Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026 This is incredibly misleading, dishonest and self-serving. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 In The Corner That Held Them, rarely does desire raise its head as the nuns busy themselves with dishonest bishops, honest con men, collapsing spires, inconclusive visions, ecclesiastical intrigues, catty infighting, attempts at levitation, and the plague. Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • Alas, the misleading, cold-in-the-morning, warm-at-night weather has finally arrived.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Despite the backlash, DeRosa has insisted the criticism has created misleading narratives about his handling of the team and his understanding of the tournament format.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Transfers made after a dispute becomes foreseeable can be challenged as fraudulent conveyances.
    Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Criminals look for confusion around tax rules, new programs or trending online advice and use that uncertainty to push fraudulent claims or steal personal information.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Chapman is charged with making a false statement during a firearm purchase and engaging in the business of firearms dealing without a license.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Thomas Edward Manfredi, 33, is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and making a false police report, according to an arrest warrant.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That conclusion is erroneous, and the Resolution Agreement proposed by OCR would place Jeffco in direct conflict with Colorado law.
    Olivia Young, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Uber created a dedicated help page for those who've received erroneous 1099s.
    Greg Iacurci,Kate Dore, CFP®, EA, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Erin Lee Opponents, however, call the measure extreme and its language deceptive.
    Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Centers' growing power Previous efforts in California, Colorado and Vermont to regulate crisis pregnancy centers arose from concerns over allegations of deceptive and misleading practices and questions about patient data privacy.
    Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, NPR, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.
    Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Stand back and check for any shingles that look lifted, crooked, or curled.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Your mailbox is a small feature that can signal neglect if it’s dated, deteriorating, or crooked.
    Jane Kim, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Federal authorities announced an investigation Friday of two immigration officers who appeared to have made untruthful statements under oath about a shooting in Minneapolis last month.
    Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Trump, of course, was rude, untruthful, and excessively, if not quite so egregiously, long-winded in his first term, too.
    Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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