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 Lead with care, then state your honest limits. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026 The companies that get the most out of that partnership are the ones whose executives treat a fourteen-year-old's presence in the office as worth taking seriously with real assignments and a few honest minutes about what good work looks like. Kelby Woodard, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 In North Kansas City, Steel’s Used Books became a third space for many in the community to have honest and intelligent conversations without the fear of judgment. Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Like the work of the empiricist who inspired Lewis’s trip, this contemporary story leads us to a more complex and more honest understanding of the past. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
  • During the primary the two contenders agreed on most issues, but Valdez argued throughout the campaign that Reynoso wasn't outspoken enough.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Jackie and Shadow became internet sensations thanks to the live webcams maintained in their nest by nonprofit organization Friends of Big Bear Valley, which is an outspoken voice for conserving eagle habitat.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Manliness is a touchy subject these days, but there was a time when honorable combat was respected above the mere running of one’s mouth.
    Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
  • And Florida passed only because one player made the honorable decision.
    David Mica, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • The whole industry poses significant ethical risks.
    Will Barker, TheWeek, 25 June 2026
  • Under his direction, Cathay debuted the Aria Suite—a reimagining of premium travel—alongside the global 'Where Artistry Takes Flight' campaign, where the airline partnered with an ethical AI platform to create an interactive art tool.
    Slma Shelbayah, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • The family of a 26-year-old man who was shot and killed in Fort Worth last week remembers his bright smile and genuine laugh.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026
  • The film, based on Thomas Perry’s novel Strip, wears its influences — ranging from Elmore Leonard to Carl Hiaasen to Quentin Tarantino — heavily, without the genuine wit of many of its predecessors.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Their rivals were a candid, impudent pair, the schoolgirlish Shakira and a throaty American bottle-service girl named Toni, both incapable of conniving their way into romance, prone to heartbreak, and swiftly ostracized for their overt judgment of other islanders.
    Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
  • One sweet candid shot showed Lopez hugging her son after his graduation.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • In addition to conscientious UV protection, Hall recommends that patients with aging skin prioritize hydration and skin-barrier support.
    Jenny Berg, Glamour, 22 June 2026
  • After a two-year National Service stint as a hospital orderly (thanks to his own conscientious-objector status), Hockney landed at the Royal College of Art, in London, in the fall of 1959.
    Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • To create authentic posts, users must leverage AI as a personalized writing partner.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Stay true to your authentic expression when the Scorpio moon challenges Mars.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Simple and truthful explanations build the psychological safety necessary for children building trusting relationships.
    Keisha M. Wint, The Conversation, 23 June 2026
  • And yet, the fight on Juneteenth was perhaps a more truthful reminder of the way things were, and how contingent the promises of American freedom could be.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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