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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun honesty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of honesty are honor, integrity, and probity. While all these words mean "uprightness of character or action," honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.

When is honor a more appropriate choice than honesty?

While the synonyms honor and honesty are close in meaning, honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position.

When would integrity be a good substitute for honesty?

The meanings of integrity and honesty largely overlap; however, integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.

When could probity be used to replace honesty?

While in some cases nearly identical to honesty, probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

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 honesty With hat combination of location and timing (the show had concluded mere hours ago), his exhaustion gives way to a deeper introspection and honesty. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025 Being reliable not only signals honesty but also communicates respect for others’ time, feelings and expectations. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Getty Images In the study, researchers crafted job adverts that called for a candidate high in one of six personality factors including honesty-humility, emotionality, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 What interested me about Warren’s book was the emotional honesty and the intimacy of an artist that most people didn’t realize was going through one of the most painful times of his life. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for honesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honesty
Noun
  • Executive privilege allows the witness to withhold information from Congress to protect the integrity of the executive branch.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2025
  • On July 3, 2025, Guardians right-handed starter, Luis Ortiz was flagged by betting integrity firm IC360 for allegedly throwing a pair of pitches that received an unusual amount of gambling activity.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This deep connection between trees and morality is further evidenced in a trope of Western literature in which humans are transformed into trees, sometimes as an embodiment of sin.
    Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Rebecca Ferguson stars as Captain Olivia Walker, a senior White House official tasked with keeping the government functioning as panic sets in, while Idris Elba plays a top national security adviser who must balance strategy with morality.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • DeMeco Ryans will have the honor to try to mesh all of the newcomers together to put a division-championship team on the field.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Each piece tells a story and honors culture, while allowing women who carry the bags to step into that story themselves.
    Ugonnaora Owoh, Essence, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Chiara and Carolina arrived with such sincerity, depth, and passion for storytelling.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Pressman [has] deep knowledge and sincerity.
    Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Becoming a saint In the Catholic faith, sainthood is reserved for those who have lived a life of heroic virtues, offered their life for others or died for their faith, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
    Lauren Costantino September 6, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Was one of Forest’s virtues last season their relative simplicity, which will now be disrupted?
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Meursault acquiesces but with a casually brutal frankness as to his motives, which have nothing to do with love.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Hilarious yet heartfelt, Mom offers a refreshing frankness not often seen in today's sitcoms.
    Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This architecture allows developers to leverage existing MongoDB drivers and tools while benefiting from PostgreSQL’s reliability and ecosystem.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Gas turbines are valued for their efficiency, reliability, and versatility, so they are used in power plants, aviation, and various industrial settings.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Grandma combines all of that cheesy, starchy goodness into one casserole dish instead.
    Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The birds are naturally drawn to flowers, but are also known for taking pit stops at bright feeders filled with sugary goodness for them.
    Joyce Orlando, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Honesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honesty. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on honesty

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