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honesty

noun

ˈä-nə-stē How to pronounce honesty (audio)
Definition of honestynext
1
as in integrity
devotion to telling the truth George Washington has gone down in history for his honesty

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2
as in morality
conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong he's known for his honesty in business dealings

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3
as in honor
faithfulness to high moral standards she knew she could count on her students' honesty, even if she left the classroom for a few moments during the test

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4
as in sincerity
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions I am speaking with all honesty when I say that your apple pie is the best I've ever tasted

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun honesty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of honesty are honor, integrity, and probity. While all these words mean "uprightness of character or action," honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way.

When is honor a more appropriate choice than honesty?

While the synonyms honor and honesty are close in meaning, honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position.

When would integrity be a good substitute for honesty?

The meanings of integrity and honesty largely overlap; however, integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.

When could probity be used to replace honesty?

While in some cases nearly identical to honesty, probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

Examples of honesty in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Today’s athletes are more open about their battles, and say that honesty about mental health has led to a better balance in their lives. —Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2024 Variety and Rolling Stone are proud to recognize her honesty and bravery over this past year fighting for truth and justice in her cases against Donald Trump. —William Earl, Variety, 24 July 2024 Oppenheimer’s honesty is raw, and at times hilarious, but it feels muddled by the disorganization and lack of clarity in her storytelling. —Samantha Wurm, Twin Cities, 5 Aug. 2024 The best way to shine is to adhere to your word and to put honesty and kindness first. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for honesty 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honesty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near honesty

honestly

honesty

honey

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Cite this Entry

“Honesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honesty. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on honesty

Nglish: Translation of honesty for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of honesty for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about honesty

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