Definition of dishonestnext
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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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.
Recent Examples of dishonest The case, which has only recently come to the attention of POST officials, highlights the limits of state oversight even after lawmakers passed significant police reform aimed at forcing dishonest cops out of the profession. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026 In Virginia the governor ran one of the most dishonest, disingenuous campaigns in modern history on redistricting. NBC news, 3 May 2026 Californians created the Department of Insurance to protect consumers against dishonest terms and unfair pricing. Ben Allen, Oc Register, 2 May 2026 Overall, Savitt’s tactics have elicited responses that The Verge reported made Musk appear dishonest and hot-tempered to the jury. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • Manny Salazar, the Police Department’s public information officer and former drone team member, said the 46-drone figure is misleading.
    Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
  • He was also booked on suspicion of making false or misleading statements to a public servant, per the records.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
Adjective
  • Holmes fashioned herself as the next Steve Jobs, until a reporter at the Wall Street Journal blew the lid off Theranos' fraudulent claims of developing a state-of-the-art medical test that required only a single drop of blood to accurately detect results like glucose levels and cancer.
    James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
  • The Justice Department alleges the two businesses submitted fraudulent claims for services that were never rendered.
    Luke Barr, ABC News, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
  • In January, Roberts pleaded guilty to making a false statement for employment and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm while being in the country illegally.
    Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • That assumption is erroneous—and dangerous.
    David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • Technology should be developed to track the same digital paths that erroneous content traveled, correcting the record along the way.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • This isn’t an easy history to tell since obfuscation, confusion, and deceptive hype are its central themes.
    Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Owens also challenged the ballot title and summary as deceptive.
    Jack Harvel June 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Supporters of recent state AI regulations said the measures will address potential threats to public safety and personal privacy, and to counter any mendacious actions created by AI, while not hindering innovation.
    Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The set design is intricate and distorted—visible paintbrush strokes, acute angles, crooked lines—lending the film a surreal quality and supporting its cast of expressive actors, exaggerated costuming, and eerie makeup.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 30 May 2026
  • Falter struggled, but he also wasn’t helped by a replay review that helped the Yankees put up a crooked number in the first inning.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Since 2019, state law has required law enforcement agencies that employ POST certificate holders to notify the board if a certificate holder knowingly made an untruthful statement during an internal affairs investigation, among other circumstances.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
  • These questions were raised after reporting by The New York Times in August 2024 regarding Moore’s untruthful claims about receiving the Bronze Star in Afghanistan — a story originally reported on in 2022 by FOX45’s Mikenzie Frost.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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