Definition of honestnext
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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 That ratio of self-detected versus externally notified compromise is the most honest grade on whether your security program is a real intelligence function or an alert pile nobody reads. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 The caller wanted to thank me for raising an honest son. Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 Keep it steady, and let small, honest wins add up. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026 The Gone Girl actress has often been honest about her dating life. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
  • Bush, an outspoken critic of Israel, launched a primary challenge last fall for what’s now the sole remaining safe blue seat in Missouri after Republicans redrew the map.
    Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 June 2026
  • And, before the fight began, UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland — an outspoken critic of Israel — was escorted out of the Ellipse by a crowd of law enforcement officers.
    Will Weissert, Twin Cities, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • These qualities are not always rewarded in the marketplace but are important for honorable living.
    John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
  • These are all honorable qualities that coexist in the dynamics of many families.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Doudna, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 with Emmanuelle Charpentier for this pioneering work, has been a prominent voice not only for its vast potential but also for its responsible and ethical use.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2026
  • Some workplace experts argue that with more businesses adopting AI tools, soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking and ethical decision-making are worth cultivating to help employees become indispensable.
    Cathy Bussewitz, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • Tables filled with food, cheerful toasts and a genuine love for partying became popular with non-Armenian clientele too.
    Ani Duzdabanyan, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • The actor argued that social media creates the illusion of intimacy while removing the unpredictability that comes with genuine human connection.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Johnson Library in Austin is among the most candid, portraying the Vietnam War as a national trauma and the president as conflicted and constrained.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • The Task Force was candid about this too, and its candor extends beyond the algorithms.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • Cap Rocat also aims to preserve and strengthen the natural and social environment through a conscientious selection of suppliers engaged in sustainable fishing and organic and zero-kilometer products.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • But Charlotte, quiet, honest, conscientious, reveals herself to be a simmering, roiling, wildly imaginative cauldron on the inside, not unlike this book.
    Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • Malone's country music is described as authentic and inspired by classic country artists, with a focus on live performance and instrumentation.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • McCollum embraces his evolving artistry, prioritizing authentic expression over genre conventions.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Sam always found this really interesting line of being very truthful of what is going on behind closed doors in a generation, but then also pushing the boundaries on how people are used to perceiving or digesting certain topics.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
  • Because there was a feeding frenzy, there were a lot of people that were not truthful.
    Steve Dollar, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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