Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

dishonest

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of dishonest

1 telling or containing lies
  • I think he is being dishonest about how much he knows.
  • dishonest statements on the claims form
Synonyms of dishonest

lying, mendacious, untruthful
Words Related to dishonest

erroneous, fallacious, false, misleading, untrue

double-dealing, hypocrite, hypocritical, insincere, mealymouthed, smooth-tongued, two-faced

perjurious
Near Antonyms of dishonest

candid, open, plainspoken, straightforward

earnest, sincere, true

conscientious, moral, principled, scrupulous

dependable, reliable, trustable, trustworthy, trusty

decent, ethical, honorable, just, respectable, righteous, right-minded, straight, upright, upstanding, virtuous
Antonyms of dishonest

honest, truthful, veracious
2 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 of dishonest

crooked, deceptive, double-dealing, duplicitous, fast, fraudulent, guileful, rogue, shady, sharp, shifty, underhand, underhanded
Words Related to dishonest

unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

deceitful, deceiving, deluding, delusive, delusory, false

artful, beguiling, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, subtle, wily

defrauding, devious, furtive, slippery, sneaking, sneaky, trickish, tricky

insidious, perfidious, treacherous
Near Antonyms of dishonest

conscientious, decent, ethical, honorable, just, scrupulous, upright

forthright, straightforward
Antonyms of dishonest

aboveboard, honest, straight
3 marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
  • dishonest appraisals of art works
Synonyms of dishonest

crooked, deceitful, defrauding, double-dealing, false, fraudulent
Words Related to dishonest

beguiling, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, duplicitous, fallacious, misleading, specious

spurious
Near Antonyms of dishonest

legitimate, true, valid
Antonyms of dishonest

aboveboard, honest, truthful

Synonym Discussion of dishonest

dishonest, deceitful, mendacious, untruthful 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
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

Learn More about dishonest

  1. Dictionary: Definition of dishonest Spanish Central: Translation of dishonest Nglish: Translation of dishonest for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dishonest? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games