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

Her attorneys contend the defendants used the litigation to portray her as dishonest, intimidate potential witnesses, fuel a public relations campaign against her and drive up the cost of her legal defense. — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 June 2026

An honest summary would still pass the buck to the voters on a grossly dishonest scheme, but at least the voters might recognize a description that doesn’t cajole, coax and mislead them. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026

What is obvious is that the only thing as dishonest as FIFA’s insistence that the breaks are only because of its concerns about players’ health is FIFA’s claiming that the stoppages don’t impact matches. — Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 19 June 2026

The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 June 2026