1
as in deceit
the tendency to tell lies
if you gain a reputation for dishonesty, no one will believe you even when you're telling the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deception
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery
a religious cult that recruits members through dishonesty and subterfuge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dishonesty
Sarah is an excessively whiny character whose dishonesty is off-putting.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Another 24% of participants cited poor leadership, dishonesty and personal dislikes as their reason for disapproving.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Her cross-examination — with its rapid-fire accusations, caustic tone and presumption of dishonesty — had felt eerily familiar after years of verbal abuse.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Over time, that can contribute to loneliness, shallow connections, and what some experts describe as emotional dishonesty.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dishonesty
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Another 24% of participants cited poor leadership, dishonesty and personal dislikes as their reason for disapproving.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Her cross-examination — with its rapid-fire accusations, caustic tone and presumption of dishonesty — had felt eerily familiar after years of verbal abuse.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Over time, that can contribute to loneliness, shallow connections, and what some experts describe as emotional dishonesty.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dishonesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonesty
Noun
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The Silicon Valley case remains the center of attention, focused on a 2024 lawsuit filed by Elon Musk that accuses OpenAI of alleged deceit in taking millions from the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX while operating as a nonprofit, only to later pivot into a for-profit enterprise.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
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There's everything from resentment to jealousy, favouritism, and deceit swirling around in a boiling-hot cauldron where fair is foul and foul is fair.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
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What begins as a small con deepens when the painter’s shrewd agent (Gilles Lellouche) spots an opportunity, encouraging Suzanne to continue the deception as a way to revive his client’s creativity — and bankroll them both.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
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Olivia Beech, America’s youngest female sommelier, tragically lost her sense of taste during COVID, but relied on her sharp sense of smell until she was fired for her deception.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Antisocial personality includes a persistent pattern of traits such as callousness, lack of concern, deceitfulness, and irresponsibility, Ryan said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
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Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.—
Sue Brightman,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The appeals court that ordered a trial court to reconsider Peters' sentence said the trial judge's consideration of her belief in the existence of 2020 election fraud went beyond what was relevant to sentencing her.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Dana Williamson, former top aide to Newsom, pleaded guilty in an FBI corruption probe to bank fraud, filing a false tax return and lying to the FBI.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Nah, my dreams of us are probably better anyway - cheating?—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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And according to the data, most of this cheating is done with generative AI.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Maybe the mere fact of having been born illustrious, with no apparent faults, with nothing to prove or to be ashamed of, had liberated John from the resentments the rest of us feel, and from the cunning and ambition such resentments fuel.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
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The Brazil international combines technical craft with a decisive cunning.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dishonesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonesty. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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