Synonyms of dishonest

dishonest

adjective

(ˌ)dis-ˈä-nəst 

1

as in misleading

telling or containing lies

I think he is being dishonest about how much he knows

dishonest statements on the claims form

Synonyms & Similar Words

• misleading
• erroneous
• mendacious
• untruthful
• lying
• false
• hypocritical
• untrue
• fallacious
• insincere
• hypocrite
• perjurious
• two-faced
• double-dealing
• smooth-tongued
• mealymouthed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honest
• truthful
• open
• true
• straightforward
• sincere
• candid
• earnest
• moral
• conscientious
• scrupulous
• veracious
• reliable
• trustworthy
• principled
• plainspoken
• dependable
• ethical
• honorable
• virtuous
• righteous
• respectable
• straight
• decent
• trusty
• upright
• just
• trustable
• upstanding
• right-minded

2

as in fraudulent

given to or marked by cheating and deception

dishonest car dealers who roll back mileage gauges

dishonest business deals that landed him in jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fraudulent
• deceptive
• crooked
• shady
• duplicitous
• false
• rogue
• underhanded
• fast
• shifty
• underhand
• bent
• unscrupulous
• unethical
• guileful
• deceitful
• artful
• unprincipled
• sharp
• double-dealing
• treacherous
• deceiving
• unconscionable
• cunning
• subtle
• delusive
• crafty
• wily
• sly
• slick
• slippery
• cagey
• sneaky
• devious
• perfidious
• beguiling
• insidious
• delusory
• tricky
• furtive
• deluding
• foxy
• defrauding
• trickish
• sneaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honest
• straight
• ethical
• honorable
• conscientious
• scrupulous
• decent
• just
• upright
• aboveboard
• forthright
• straightforward

3

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

• fraudulent
• false
• deceptive
• deceitful
• misleading
• crooked
• duplicitous
• defrauding
• double-dealing
• specious
• deceiving
• fallacious
• delusive
• beguiling
• delusory
• deluding
• spurious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• honest
• truthful
• true
• legitimate
• valid
• aboveboard

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

Recent Examples of dishonest

Like the president, Vance describes Democrats as dishonest, pandering, and often stupid. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Denigrating the relationship—deciding, for instance, that the rejecter was evil, dishonest, unworthy of your respect or time— devalues your own history, in effect consigning the whole relationship to the trash bin. — George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Only someone very comfortable, or very dishonest, would pretend the fantasy has no appeal. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

That is what makes conversations like this sound dishonest and contrived. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026