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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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7
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed
a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
an honest effort
honest work
an honest answer
honest communication
open communication
transparent communication
heartfelt communication
upfront communication
clear communication
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of honest
Log in Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
—
Sam Mednick, Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2025
Alcazar is the ideal foil for that: elegant, honest, and rich of voice but also self-protected and slightly unknowable, as is the case with all stars.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
Power shields its misdeeds with propaganda, but Panh sees such murderous lies clearly, giving them an honest staging, thick with echoes.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
This year-end annual project polls NHL scouts with a different set of two or three questions each year, granting them anonymity to encourage honest — and hopefully candid — answers.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for honest
Sam Mednick, Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2025
Alcazar is the ideal foil for that: elegant, honest, and rich of voice but also self-protected and slightly unknowable, as is the case with all stars.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
Power shields its misdeeds with propaganda, but Panh sees such murderous lies clearly, giving them an honest staging, thick with echoes.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
This year-end annual project polls NHL scouts with a different set of two or three questions each year, granting them anonymity to encourage honest — and hopefully candid — answers.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
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Winter doesn’t deny that some of the advice is truthful — falling asleep in a colder, darker room, for example, or engaging in a relaxing activity like reading before bed.—
Elise Devlin,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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In arguing — sometimes civilly, sometimes not — the details of the case, the 12 men and women in the room reflect something deeply truthful about all of us, as individuals and as a society.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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But the film’s pulse-pounding excitement is merely a feint to suggest how the rush for vengeance — no matter how justified — only brings about more killing, dragging down honorable intentions and leaving blood on everyone’s hands.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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Milk was forced to resign from the Navy and receive an other than honorable discharge.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Invest in educator training that moves beyond basic tool familiarity to pedagogical integration and ethical considerations.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
Such governance will likely include public data trusts, ethical review boards, and inclusive policy-making processes—all of which emphasize collective rather than individualistic solutions.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Coach Wall was a remarkable individual whose kindness and genuine spirit touched all who knew him.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2025
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Today's audiences—both Hispanic and non-Hispanic—are savvy, diverse, and crave genuine representation and storytelling.—
Isaac Mizrahi,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The candid reflections of their upbringings, their unique cultural backgrounds and the overarching complexity of living authentically are all equally important pieces of a fabric that is slowly being sewn into a quilt.—
Morgan Lieberman,
NPR,
26 June 2025
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Lovato, whose Disney Channel stardom catapulted her to fame at a young age, has been candid about her struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and disordered eating.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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As any stunt coordinator or conscientious director will tell you, the trick is to make the stunt look dangerous but not be dangerous.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
14 June 2025
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Most arbitrators are highly conscientious professionals who take their job very seriously.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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The authentic arcade controls are durable and comfortable for intense sessions.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
26 June 2025
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The journeys, known as Original Voyages, have numerous and varied shore excursions allowing travelers a chance to explore authentic Norway at a relaxed pace, with flexible itineraries and approachable pricing.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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As such, trees grown from seed provide a reliable and affordable (free) option for backyard growers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
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People will see you as reliable and realistic yet open to imaginative ideas.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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