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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

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 honest Liza simply would not survive without her best friend and roommate Maggie, and Younger was a better show for having an honest outsider’s perspective on Liza’s shenanigans. Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025 Fellow Mumsnet users quickly chimed in with their honest opinions. Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025 Mercury’s slowdown invites you to get honest — not just with others, but with yourself. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025 The affable star guard delivered another of his patently honest answers. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
  • And there’s the disability of Brian, and just being to be really truthful about all of that in some meaningful way, and try to capture it correctly.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
  • This play is about having deep and truthful conversation.
    Esther Zuckerman, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • To keep the homeland safe, America needs a strategy to deter a devastating war, preserve its strategic position in Asia, and thereby maintain an honorable peace with China.
    Eyck Freymann, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
  • In 2021, the Vietnam Veterans of America presented Agnes with an award for her dedication, devotion and honorable military service.
    Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Other ethical considerations will arise as the watches go into production.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There are also social and ethical challenges that need to be addressed.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The real question is whether genuine mutual interest emerges from those preliminary conversations, many of which will take place in Las Vegas this week.
    Patrick McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
  • For most of the year, tennis watchers have been bemoaning the lack of a genuine threat to Sinner and Alcaraz, but here Fritz had the latter on the rack.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • In a candid interview, top real estate agent and founder of SYKES Properties, Erin Sykes, got real about the state of the Florida real estate market.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Mod Sun has been candid about the split in the past.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Bindi’s only six years older, but is very conscientious and a real caregiver.
    Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
  • There are unanswered overtures from the choir’s pianist Horner (Robert Emms), a soft, vulnerable young man whose conscientious-objector status renders him a fellow outsider.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Through her book, coaching programs, and authentic voice, Keisha Leilani empowers women to embrace their confidence and express themselves fully.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To embody the Like a Rolling Stone singer, the actor trained extensively, including five years of preparation, to learn to sing as well as play guitar and harmonica, and to work with dialect and movement coaches to make his performance feel authentic.
    Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Clean energy is driving a state of 40 million people, offering more affordable energy and creating reliable jobs that will power the future.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Becton is not reliable at this stage.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on honest

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