1
as in truthful
being in the habit of telling the truth
at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ethical
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
an honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change
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4
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in candid
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear
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6
as in conscientious
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong
made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria
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7
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed
a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
an honest effort
honest work
an honest answer
honest communication
open communication
transparent communication
heartfelt communication
upfront communication
clear communication
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of honest
Patriotism should inspire honest reckoning, not denial.
—
Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
School curricula must be honest, inclusive and unafraid of difficult truths.
—Linda Ambrus Broenniman, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2025
My advice is to conduct an honest assessment of your team's capabilities relative to migration requirements.
—Aj Bubb, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
What is your secret to remaining an innovator in your field?
To be honest, I get inspired.
—Nigel Smith, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for honest
Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
School curricula must be honest, inclusive and unafraid of difficult truths.
—Linda Ambrus Broenniman, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2025
My advice is to conduct an honest assessment of your team's capabilities relative to migration requirements.
—Aj Bubb, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
What is your secret to remaining an innovator in your field?
To be honest, I get inspired.
—Nigel Smith, People.com, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
Adjective
-
And those statements must be truthful, based on substantiated evidence and an accurate interpretation of that evidence.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
2 July 2025
-
In the investigation, the BPD’s Bureau of Professional Standards found Champagnie had violated six department rules, including one that requires officers to be truthful in their reports, Cloud wrote in his motion earlier this month.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Different views on the topic Some readers challenge the emphasis on political decorum, arguing that respect must be earned through honorable conduct rather than election victories.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
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Or that America's founding principles are honorable and created a superpower that leads the world.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Managers are the ethical gatekeepers responsible for monitoring outputs and ensuring alignment with company values.—
Dr. Timothy J. Giardino,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Around the globe, museums—including the Smithsonian—are working to develop policies surrounding the ethical treatment of human remains.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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What matters is whether genuine compatibility exists beneath the obsession.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
5 July 2025
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Despite the lighthearted framing of the post, many comments conveyed genuine sadness or guilt—often about animals taken on without fully understanding the commitment involved.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Join entrepreneurs for a candid talk show session that pulls back the curtain on the true costs behind every price tag, from sourcing and fair wages to overhead and sustainability.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 July 2025
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Recruit two to three marketing professionals from outside your sector who will inspire bold thinking and provide candid feedback.—
Lynn Godfrey,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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The documents included emails, personal essays and other academic records, which showed Crooks to be a conscientious and intelligent college student with an interest in engineering as well as a clear skepticism of the federal government and corporations.—
Emily Mae Czachor
July 13,
CBS News,
13 July 2025
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More than 70% of participants were classified as open-minded, conscientious, and emotionally stable, suggesting the sample may not reflect the broader personality distribution in the general population, the authors noted.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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The result is a generation of consumers rotating through aesthetic costumes, each promising authentic self-expression while delivering its opposite: a wardrobe of references with no referent, style without substance.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Essence,
8 July 2025
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For authentic crispy edges at home, Lloyd’s pans are the gold standard—just don’t hold back on the oil.—
Parker Hall,
Wired News,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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But Amazon representatives insist drone deliveries are not only fast and reliable but safe, too.—
Russ Wiles,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
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Best Buy Here's proof that reliable tracking doesn't have to be expensive.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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