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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sincere distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sincere are heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned, and wholehearted. While all these words mean "genuine in feeling," sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

When can heartfelt be used instead of sincere?

While in some cases nearly identical to sincere, heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

When could hearty be used to replace sincere?

Although the words hearty and sincere have much in common, hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

Where would unfeigned be a reasonable alternative to sincere?

In some situations, the words unfeigned and sincere are roughly equivalent. However, unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

When might wholehearted be a better fit than sincere?

The synonyms wholehearted and sincere are sometimes interchangeable, but wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

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 sincere But as the siblings pray for a bleeding-out Corey to reach Heaven, the series is also at its most sincere. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2025 Considering that Bernthal keeps his daughter’s headband hanging around his rearview mirror and carries a picture of wife Erin Angle to every gig, his gushing over Affleck seems sincere. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025 In her book, Brown provides practical support for forming and receiving feedback, holding space for sincere conversations, and cultivating an authentic workplace culture where individuals feel psychologically safe to take risks and show up openly. Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025 My sincere condolences to Amy Irving & all of Priscilla's family. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sincere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sincere
Adjective
  • Section meetings are open to members, guests and anyone with a genuine interest in UFOs/UAPs.
    Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
  • For all the offseason acquisitions meant to bolster the rotation, starting pitching has become a genuine concern for Los Angeles.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Gilroy is honest about the parts of Andor that have not been easy, too.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 16 May 2025
  • Comforting touch should be honest and clear – not ambiguous, not tentative and never assumed.
    Brian N. Chin, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • The final three who advanced to the finale were Roberts, Nix, and Foster—each bringing a distinct musical identity: Roberts with a dynamic stage presence, Nix with heartfelt emotional delivery, and Foster with his versatile, genre-spanning performances.
    Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
  • Explore Olga Tañón Thalia See latest videos, charts and news Gushing Over Karol G Thalia reacted to Karol G’s Netflix documentary, Tomorrow Was Beautiful, with a heartfelt post on social media.
    Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • During the two-and-a-half years when one of the four tubes will be shut to train traffic, the current LIRR and Amtrak schedules — both of which were slightly reduced as of November in anticipation of the shutdown — should, in theory, be unaffected.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
  • In addition, although students with high SAT scores were largely unaffected by course shutouts, students with low SAT scores experienced more negative effects, particularly a lower likelihood of declaring a STEM major.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • This was a performer whose sense of self-worth, depending on the day, ranged from unfeigned humility to desperate insecurity to full-on self-loathing.
    Bruce Handy, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
  • His life story is inspiring, and his love of country is as unfeigned as his faith.
    Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Adjective
  • Trevon Williams, who did not escape from the New Orleans jail, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on May 23.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • As artificial intelligence models grow increasingly sophisticated, their capabilities extend far beyond simple task execution.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The coloration of light in this image does not depict a true optical rainbow as would be seen by the naked eye, but rather a colored representation of different wavelengths of light that highlight the instrument's capability to analyze various components of the solar atmosphere.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 15 May 2025
  • Dylan’s life is full of true — meaning real — contradictions.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • These rapid deportations mean some innocent people are being denied the chance to clear their name in a U.S. courtroom.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • Seeing innocent people arrested for exercising their civil rights, sparked his desire to pursue a career in law.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sincere. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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