as in deception
the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have
the insincerity of the family's professed concern for the environment is pretty much exposed by the gas-guzzler parked in the driveway
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of insincerity
Allen’s combo of flip insincerity and kindly concern is a terrific treat, recalling Bill Murray at his doofy best.
—
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
In an era of skepticism, audiences quickly detect insincerity.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And as the secretive Jack, Travis Van Winkle oozes oily, sexist insincerity.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
In an era of skepticism, audiences quickly detect insincerity.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
And as the secretive Jack, Travis Van Winkle oozes oily, sexist insincerity.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insincerity
Noun
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Named one of the 10 Best Books of 2025 by The New York Times, Angel Down follows Private Cyril Bagger, who has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of WWI through his wits and deception, swindling fellow soldiers at every opportunity.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
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The drama about power, deception, and the complex bond between father and son is set in 1930s New York as international financier Gregor Antonescu’s empire faces collapse.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But Prosecutor Ben Ladinig argued any grains of authenticity in Haobsh's life were far outweighed by deceit.—
Natalie Morales,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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These are just some of the most prominent, powerful bootlickers stumbling right now on their own deceit and desperation.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But even at a progressive institution like Antioch, Coretta encountered the quiet betrayal of liberal hypocrisy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
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As has become tradition for Jon Stewart‘s Monday evening hosting stints for The Daily Show, the political comic had to work hard to detangle all the webs of hypocrisy exemplified by the right wing — this time, in relation to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For the most part though, For the First Time, Again is weighed down by oversinging and emotional affectation.—
Millan Verma,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
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The self-conscious aspiration to hipness here is unfortunate and decidedly not cool, but some may find such affectations quaint.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Federal officials have declared ICE’s killings lawful and justified over social media without any pretense of a formal review, making statements that are cruel, derogatory, misleading, or simply false.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Investigators say Wilson approached her under the pretense of needing directions.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insincerity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insincerity. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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