dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.
a swindle usually involves two dishonest people
deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.
the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse
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
untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.
an untruthful account of their actions
Examples of dishonest in a Sentence
She gave dishonest answers to our questions.
I think he is being dishonest about how much he knows
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Matthiessen, not without reason, portrays the Bureau as paranoid, dishonest, and in league with corporate interests.—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 For that incredibly dishonest assessment that actually did a disservice to the country, Obama is held up to widespread praise by Democrats and others, even winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025 Roberts plays an unhappy American in Venice who is wooed by depressed, divorced, and done-with-love Allen in a variety of vaguely dishonest ways.—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 Ventura also rejected the defense’s portrayal of Combs as a changed man, calling it dishonest and dangerous.—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French deshoneste, from des- dis- + honeste honest
Share