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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 The reasons for such concerns start with the shockingly dishonest campaign for Proposition 1A, the 2008 state ballot measure allocating $9.95 billion in bond seed money for a network of bullet trains linking Los Angeles and San Francisco. U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025 Transgender rights are way too important to tie to claims that are blatantly, obviously and scientifically dishonest. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025 Users of all sites expressed frustration with dishonest users and dating scams, which appeared to be a particular problem on Tinder. Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 Harvard’s dishonest expert on honesty is a poignant symbol of a far larger problem in academia: ideological allegiance replacing the quest for truth. Andrew Follett, National Review, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • Why Amazon Prime Day scammers are winning and how to stay ahead While Amazon hasn't released a formal statement yet, the company maintains ongoing efforts to detect and remove fraudulent listings and suspicious domains.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
  • Republished on July 4 with further police and federal agency warnings that fraudulent callers are now targeting smartphone users in the U.S. This is not the FBI.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the claims are false.
    Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 3 July 2025
  • The City of Odessa, Texas, also said claims of a serial killer in the area were false in a Dec. 9 Facebook post.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Adjective
  • In numerous replies and posts, Grok wrote messaged that glorified Adolf Hitler, attached stereotypes to users with Jewish surnames and spread erroneous conspiracy theories about the role of Jewish people in government, commerce and media.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 10 July 2025
  • Because of erroneous information on the website for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a story published July 6 on Page A1 incorrectly reported that former San Jose police officer George Brown’s police license with the state had been taken off suspension.
    Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • The suit alleges excessive fees resulting in high annual percentage rates, deceptive tipping practices and misleading consumers about the voluntary nature of fees.
    AJ Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Mayes seeks to dissolve both companies, citing violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and deceptive practices targeting underage customers.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Impulsive, egocentric, and mendacious, Trump has, in the same span, set fire to the integrity of his office.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Her unsettling command of the character — who was equal parts sweet, vulnerable, mendacious, and menacing — was one of the highlights of the series.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The coffeehouse patched with oleander, Captain’s house behind the crooked pine, our restaurant painted blue and white.
    Aysegül Savas, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
  • The name of the waterfall, township and river is considered to be an English or French interpretation of the Ojibwe name for the river, meaning crooked river, Ocqueoc Township's website says.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • The document discovery in those cases revealed that France had been untruthful during the NFLPA arbitration process.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • During the trial, prosecutors showed videos of the multiple interviews Troconis had with law enforcement and accused her of being untruthful about Farber Dulos’ disappearance.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In his search for justice on the frontier, however, Rabbi Mo unknowingly wades into the center of a lethal conspiracy tied to a shady land deal.
    Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • To preserve your tools, clean them off then tuck them away somewhere cooler, dryer, and shadier like a garden shed or garage.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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