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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 According to Orly Mazur, a tax specialist and associate professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, more people are likely willing to risk being dishonest when filing taxes. Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 And worse yet, someone might be dishonest with you. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 June 2025 The court also found Angelia Solomon to be dishonest in her testimony, the ruling notes. Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 8 May 2025 Avoid generic, spammy tactics, over-automation or dishonest ploys. Samuel Darwin, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonest
Adjective
  • Most courts will ignore asset protection moves taken after that point, labeling them as fraudulent conveyances.
    Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • In total, the group was accused of wasting 1,937 COVID-19 vaccine doses between October 2021 and September 2022, including 391 pediatric doses, and creating fraudulent immunization records for them.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • He’s hosted several world leaders for explosive Oval Office sit downs, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who Trump argued with over false claims that white farmers in the country were victims of a genocide, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Mayumi pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of false reporting to authorities, while Richard did the same for a felony count of trying to influence a public servant, according to NPR.
    Jessica Sager, People.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • The latest erroneous metaphor is that our brains are like AI systems.
    Iddo Gefen, Twin Cities, 16 July 2025
  • The amount a state owes would be based on a formula set by the percentage of erroneous payments reported each year.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Amazon has prevailed in a class-action lawsuit that accused it of engaging in deceptive trade practices.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 19 July 2025
  • Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office sent CBZ and its constituent companies several subpoenas in September as investigators probed the chronically unsafe conditions of the companies’ properties, as well as allegations from tenants that CBZ had engaged in insurance fraud and deceptive practices.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 16 July 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
  • Republicans are right to be terrified with their prospects in November 2025 and 2026; there is going to be a major reckoning for their chaotic, crooked, and extreme governance.
    James Skoufis, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
  • National reporters and true crime junkies dug in, while local officials — already lacquered in scandal — looked so crooked a frame job seemed not just possible but probable.
    Tom Blakely, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The deficient vice of integrity is being fake, untruthful, inconsistent, unprincipled, and manipulative.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
  • The document discovery in those cases revealed that France had been untruthful during the NFLPA arbitration process.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • The former Oakland Raiders linebacker was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shady military pal in Predator (1987) before landing his own macho action vehicle in Action Jackson (1988).
    Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 25 July 2025
  • Visitors will find 2,000 miles of shady hiking trails, 3,000 ponds and lakes with water originating from cool mountain peaks, 30,000 miles of fresh and often chilly rivers and streams and millions of acres of sun-filtering forests.
    Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonest. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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