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as in false
marked by, based on, or done by the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value dishonest appraisals of art works that were part of an elaborate scheme to defraud insurance companies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dishonest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dishonest are deceitful, mendacious, and untruthful. While all these words mean "unworthy of trust or belief," dishonest implies a willful perversion of truth in order to deceive, cheat, or defraud.

a swindle usually involves two dishonest people

When is deceitful a more appropriate choice than dishonest?

While the synonyms deceitful and dishonest are close in meaning, deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

When might mendacious be a better fit than dishonest?

The words mendacious and dishonest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mendacious may suggest bland or even harmlessly mischievous deceit and when used of people often suggests a habit of telling untruths.

mendacious tales of adventure

When could untruthful be used to replace dishonest?

The words untruthful and dishonest can be used in similar contexts, but untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

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 dishonest However, this Republican labeling of Democrats is false, self-serving, and dishonest. Martin M. Looney, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2025 The referee agreed with Warner’s claimed mitigation factors of remorse, an absence of dishonest or selfish motive, cooperating with the proceedings and dealing with personal or emotional problems. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025 Starring Braff as Andy, the film's protagonist, and Natalie Portman as his eccentric and compulsively dishonest love interest, the film is often compared to The Graduate (1967), but remains a singular romantic comedy that demands an emotional reaction from its audience. James Mercadante, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025 According to the Post, a source familiar said CIA director John Ratcliffe referred Brennan for criminal investigation over allegedly being dishonest during congressional testimony. Tara Suter, The Hill, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • Overpayments can occur for many reasons, the agency said, including incorrect wage reporting, failure to meet work requirements or providing false or misleading information.
    Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In court, government lawyers frequently made false or misleading claims about the men’s whereabouts.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Businesses/nominees cannot obtain votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
  • After a long process of validating legitimate claims and tossing out the ones that were fraudulent or duplicative, Angeion, the company in charge of distributing the payments, has finished its calculations determining how much each individual will get as payments go out starting this month.
    Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Representatives for James have called the fraud claims made against her politically motivated and false.
    Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 Sep. 2025
  • On the next play, Taylor was called for a false-start penalty.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Lauber ruled that discounted cash flow valuation of land is erroneous as a matter of law.
    Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • One subject of a Raffi Khatchadourian piece complained that multiple details about his life were made up and demanded to know what idiot had given Khatchadourian the erroneous details.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Agencies would review requests, balancing innovation against risks such as economic harm or deceptive practices.
    Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • There will be a temptation because of his height to draw parallels with Moyes’ use of Marouane Fellaini and Soucek, two key pillars of his Everton and West Ham sides, but where Rohl is concerned, his size can be deceptive.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At Comedy Central, Colbert rose to prominence playing a slightly exaggerated version of Bill O’Reilly and other unapologetically mendacious Fox News pundits from the George W. Bush years.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
  • The true story reveals both how freedom of speech first came to be conceived of as a mechanism for truth, an antidote to falsehood, and the foundation of all liberty—and that, ironically, this new and powerful theory was itself a deliberately mendacious fiction.
    Fara Dabhoiwala, Harpers Magazine, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Their boss, the only one not carrying a blaster, pointed a long crooked finger at Rusty and all the Blasters were raised at Rusty in unison.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • For a Chicago Cubs lineup that has struggled lately to consistently score runs, let alone put up a crooked number, Friday’s opener against the Colorado Rockies provided the ideal bounce-back environment coming off the sweep in San Francisco.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Officers making contact with Hyatt noted an odor of intoxicants, staggering gait, confusion and illogical, untruthful responses to questions, according to the motion.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The deficient vice of integrity is being fake, untruthful, inconsistent, unprincipled, and manipulative.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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