Synonyms of honest

honest

adjective

ˈä-nəst 

1

as in truthful

being in the habit of telling the truth

at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• truthful
• reliable
• outspoken
• genuine
• credible
• forthright
• frank
• candid
• true
• plain
• conscientious
• veracious
• unaffected
• direct
• forthcoming
• earnest
• believable
• moral
• open
• guileless
• trustworthy
• unpretentious
• plainspoken
• scrupulous
• dependable
• openhearted
• artless
• unpretending
• principled
• veritable
• free-spoken
• out-front
• aboveboard
• freehearted
• trusty
• trustable
• foursquare

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dishonest
• lying
• untruthful
• false
• mendacious
• untrue
• unscrupulous
• unreliable
• fallacious
• unbelievable
• untrustworthy
• fibbing
• hypocritical
• pretending
• undependable
• prevaricating
• insincere
• duplicitous
• deceptive
• evasive
• deceitful
• artful
• sly
• tricky
• treacherous
• wily
• sneaky
• devious
• slick
• slippery
• underhanded
• dissembling
• posing
• bluffing
• dissimulating
• equivocating

2

as in honorable

conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue

an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honorable
• ethical
• true
• nice
• good
• decent
• moral
• virtuous
• noble
• worthy
• righteous
• respected
• upright
• straight
• all right
• right
• just
• correct
• right-minded
• proper
• legitimate
• pure
• innocent
• principled
• decorous
• exemplary
• commendable
• creditable
• reputable
• seemly
• scrupulous
• clean
• high-minded
• incorruptible
• blameless
• inoffensive
• esteemed
• irreproachable
• unobjectionable
• guiltless
• immaculate
• uncorrupted
• upstanding
• law-abiding
• spotless
• moralistic
• sanctimonious
• unerring
• angelic
• menschy
• incorrupt
• self-righteous
• lily-white
• pharisaical
• rectitudinous
• goody-goody

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dishonest
• wrong
• bad
• evil
• wicked
• unethical
• sinful
• immoral
• dishonorable
• improper
• indecent
• incorrect
• corrupt
• naughty
• unrighteous
• unseemly
• unscrupulous
• unbecoming
• depraved
• indecorous
• perverted
• dissolute
• degenerate
• unprincipled
• debased
• debauched
• low
• atrocious
• mean
• vicious
• infamous
• villainous
• base
• evil-minded
• vile
• offensive
• objectionable
• libertine
• reprobate
• blameworthy
• nefarious
• iniquitous
• fallen
• erring
• errant

3

as in ethical

following the accepted rules of moral conduct

an honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honorable
• ethical
• respectable
• decent
• noble
• principled
• righteous
• upright
• good
• just
• conscientious
• upstanding
• nice
• polite
• respected
• stand-up
• proper
• unimpeachable
• blameless
• moral
• chivalrous
• irreproachable
• scrupulous
• guiltless
• unassailable
• classy
• fair
• virtuous
• incorruptible
• reputable
• high-minded
• uncorrupted
• right-minded
• decorous
• menschy
• seemly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dishonest
• unworthy
• unjust
• low
• unethical
• dishonorable
• unprincipled
• criminal
• base
• ignoble
• bad
• corrupt
• evil
• unrighteous
• mean
• unfair
• sinful
• immoral
• crooked
• rotten
• reprehensible
• unscrupulous
• nefarious
• roguish
• iniquitous
• wicked
• rascally
• vile
• wretched
• villainous
• knavish
• culpable
• shameful
• blameworthy
• loose
• censurable
• blamable
• scoundrelly
• disgraceful
• disreputable
• blackguardly
• perverse
• depraved
• venal
• perverted
• profligate
• dissolute
• degraded
• decadent
• degenerate
• demoralized
• debased
• debauched
• libertine
• dissipated
• reprobate

4

as in genuine

free from any intent to deceive or impress others

the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genuine
• unaffected
• simple
• true
• innocent
• sincere
• real
• naive
• straightforward
• guileless
• ingenuous
• unpretentious
• spontaneous
• inexperienced
• candid
• artless
• unpretending
• natural
• frank
• on the level
• open
• straight
• unsophisticated
• direct
• childlike
• trustful
• trusting
• impressionable
• malleable
• unworldly
• plain
• persuadable
• plainspoken
• wide-eyed
• unforced
• simpleminded
• openhearted
• unstudied
• unguarded
• free
• gullible
• persuasible
• gee-whiz
• single-minded
• dewy-eyed
• free-spoken
• susceptible
• exploitable
• unwary

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dishonest
• critical
• false
• assuming
• cynical
• skeptical
• artificial
• artful
• pretentious
• affected
• fake
• insincere
• wary
• suspicious
• phony
• sophisticated
• mistrustful
• worldly
• civilized
• polished
• cosmopolitan
• cultured
• deceptive
• refined
• hypocritical
• guileful
• deceitful
• shrewd
• manipulative
• dissembling
• cultivated
• subtle
• crooked
• smooth
• devious
• cunning
• dissimulating
• sharp
• sly
• crafty
• worldly-wise
• tricky
• wily
• shifty
• slick
• designing
• flattering
• slippery
• underhanded
• calculating
• scheming
• foxy
• unctuous
• forced
• two-faced
• feigned
• arch
• strained
• double-dealing
• canny
• knavish
• sycophantic
• mealymouthed

5

as in candid

free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions

appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear

Synonyms & Similar Words

• candid
• outspoken
• frank
• straightforward
• forthcoming
• forthright
• open
• direct
• vocal
• blunt
• earnest
• up-front
• straight
• plain
• openhearted
• naive
• unguarded
• sincere
• real
• unreserved
• plainspoken
• unaffected
• out-front
• outgoing
• free-spoken
• guileless
• rude
• ingenuous
• unpretentious
• artless
• innocent
• freehearted
• gruff
• uninhibited
• unpretending
• foursquare
• vociferous
• natural
• sharp
• unrestrained
• brusque
• abrupt
• curt
• bluff
• crusty
• tactless
• thoughtless
• undesigning
• impolite
• ungracious
• undiplomatic
• inconsiderate
• unsubtle
• impertinent
• uncivil
• unmannerly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restrained
• quiet
• inhibited
• reserved
• laconic
• ambiguous
• reticent
• unforthcoming
• evasive
• uncandid
• taciturn
• dissembling
• tactful
• uncommunicative
• diplomatic
• equivocal
• polite
• courteous
• civil
• circuitous
• considerate
• politic
• tight-lipped
• close-mouthed

6

as in conscientious

guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong

made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honorable
• conscientious
• ethical
• moral
• scrupulous
• good
• responsible
• principled
• respectful
• worthy
• just
• decent
• true
• reliable
• virtuous
• conscionable
• righteous
• trustworthy
• dutiful
• upright
• straight
• observant
• respected
• solid
• right-minded
• reputable
• trusty
• overconscientious
• esteemed
• upstanding
• law-abiding
• tried-and-true

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dishonest
• unscrupulous
• unjust
• unethical
• immoral
• bad
• dishonorable
• unprincipled
• evil
• unconscionable
• wicked
• sinful
• cutthroat
• immoral
• indecent
• unreliable
• untrustworthy
• unrighteous
• corrupt
• depraved
• perverted
• dissolute
• degenerate
• debased
• low
• debauched
• atrocious
• mean
• vicious
• infamous
• villainous
• evil-minded
• base
• vile
• nefarious
• iniquitous
• reprobate

7

as in authentic

being exactly as appears or as claimed

a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genuine
• authentic
• real
• true
• original
• certified
• actual
• bona fide
• for real
• unmistakable
• pure
• historical
• certifiable
• sure-enough
• dinkum
• right
• very
• legitimate
• accurate
• legal
• identifiable
• pukka
• lawful
• verifiable
• echt
• recognizable
• validated
• proven
• unquestionable
• correct
• substantiated
• irrefutable
• indisputable
• verified
• undeniable
• incontrovertible
• undoubted
• proper
• indubitable
• unadulterated
• incontestable
• veritable
• unalloyed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• false
• fake
• unreal
• spurious
• bogus
• mock
• phony
• pseudo
• counterfeit
• unauthentic
• sham
• artificial
• synthetic
• imitation
• supposititious
• unnatural
• simulated
• factitious
• suppositious
• misleading
• deceptive
• manufactured
• fabricated
• delusive
• concocted
• man-made
• delusory

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective honest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of honest are conscientious, honorable, just, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

How do conscientious and scrupulous relate to one another, in the sense of honest?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments

scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

When would honorable be a good substitute for honest?

The meanings of honorable and honest largely overlap; however, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

Where would just be a reasonable alternative to honest?

While the synonyms just and honest are close in meaning, just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

When might upright be a better fit than honest?

The words upright and honest can be used in similar contexts, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of honest

And to be honest, that would have been Pat Mahomes’ second rushing touchdown called back in two plays (because of a penalty). — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026

Still, there were signs that figures on both sides of the aisle seemed ready to at least have an honest conversation. — Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026

Whether that’s always being upfront and honest or remembering people’s names. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Here are my honest thoughts about what that experience was like. — Keith Laing, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing honest

• honest broker