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
Many fans who thought Dylan was disingenuous during his time on the show felt vindicated by the outcome.
—Caroline Reilly, Glamour, 22 May 2025
The source says some show the disingenuous nature of the effort.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
In a particularly disingenuous passage, Alito quoted a government lawyer who assured a lower court that no deportations were planned for Friday or Saturday.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
The disingenuous view that the U.S. has all the power and China has zero levers to pull is hard to explain, considering China retaliated.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disingenuous
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Caroline Reilly, Glamour, 22 May 2025
The source says some show the disingenuous nature of the effort.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
In a particularly disingenuous passage, Alito quoted a government lawyer who assured a lower court that no deportations were planned for Friday or Saturday.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
The disingenuous view that the U.S. has all the power and China has zero levers to pull is hard to explain, considering China retaliated.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 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 4 Jun. 2025.
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