dishonest

adjective

dis·​hon·​est (ˌ)dis-ˈä-nəst How to pronounce dishonest (audio)
also (ˌ)diz-
Synonyms of dishonest
1
obsolete : shameful, unchaste
2
: characterized by lack of truth, honesty, or trustworthiness : unfair, deceptive
dishonestly adverb

Synonyms of dishonest

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dishonest, deceitful, mendacious, untruthful 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

deceitful usually implies an intent to mislead and commonly suggests a false appearance or double-dealing.

the secret affairs of a deceitful spouse

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

untruthful stresses a discrepancy between what is said and fact or reality.

an untruthful account of their actions

Examples of dishonest in a Sentence

She gave dishonest answers to our questions. I think he is being dishonest about how much he knows
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The other coach is dishonest and decides to strategically rank their players in a different order. — Dana MacKenzie, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026 However, the large amounts of insurance money flowing into the treatment industry have also attracted dishonest operators looking to score easy profits, especially in areas with weak regulatory oversight of treatment facilities. — Ilan Shrira, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 Of course, there are also age-old hustles so evidently dishonest that there was a time when their exponents risked being hung or shot. — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Like the president, Vance describes Democrats as dishonest, pandering, and often stupid. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dishonest

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French deshoneste, from des- dis- + honeste honest

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dishonest was in the 14th century

Rhymes for dishonest

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dishonest. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dishonest

adjective
dis·​hon·​est (ˈ)dis-ˈän-əst How to pronounce dishonest (audio)
: not honest or trustworthy : deceitful
dishonest people
dishonestly adverb
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