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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 Yet part of the force of it is that Michôd has not contorted Christy Martin’s life into some false arc; what was going on beneath her triumph is portrayed with a desperate and idiosyncratic honesty. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025 Fortunately, Brault handles it all with both honesty and sensitivity. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025 The film stages its riot of activity as hard-nosed honesty, but its portrait is ultimately as ginned-up and inexact as the fictional news broadcast’s lurid prying. Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025 For Lopes, trust isn’t a matter of believing intellectually in the honesty or goodwill of another individual or institution. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Sep. 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
  • What begins as a family mystery gradually opens onto broader questions of social resentment, morality and the enduring trauma of history.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The story just keeps building on itself, adding new characters and deep complexity to what could otherwise have been a flat morality tale.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His work within and outside the confines of the entertainment industry led to this honor.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
  • University of Arkansas men’s basketball Coach John Calipari made an appearance in Little Rock on Thursday to accept his Leader of the Year honor from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas during a luncheon event at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
    Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Gibson’s book delves into her struggles with finances and health, as well as her complicated relationship with Diane, who died in 2022, with clear-eyed sincerity.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The specifics matter less than the sincerity.
    Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In Israel, resilience is not treated as a soft virtue but as a critical capability to absorb shocks, adapt fast, and rebuild after failure.
    Rchin Bari, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • That’s a shame because one of the biggest virtues of Zoox’s symmetrical 4-wheel-steering design is superior ability to do general PuDo.
    Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 10 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
  • And if that wasn’t enough fruity goodness, a brightening blend of apple cider vinegar, plus alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids works to resurface and refine.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Even more goodness to check out!
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Honesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honesty. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on honesty

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