sincere

adjective

sin·​cere sin-ˈsir How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sən-
sincerer; sincerest
1
a
: free of dissimulation : honest
a sincere interest
b
: free from adulteration : pure
a sincere doctrine
sincere wine
2
: marked by genuineness : true
sincereness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sincere

sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned mean genuine in feeling.

sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Examples of sincere in a Sentence

He sounded sincere in his promises. She seemed sincere in her commitment to finish school. She has a sincere interest in painting. He showed a sincere concern for her health. He made a sincere attempt to quit smoking. Please accept our sincere thanks.
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 rest of the evening was largely an energetic affair that oscillated between sincere appreciation and light humor, the latter of which began for co-host and winner Gold early in the event. Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025 Their deep anxiety about the Rust situation seems sincere. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025 In every single scenario, participants rated the abbreviating sender as less sincere and far less worthy of a reply. David Fang, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025 The mood is a mix of ironic and sincere in equal measure, with plenty of pastiche and a heavy appreciation for the profundity of cultural detritus. Savannah Sobrevilla, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sincere

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin sincerus whole, pure, genuine, probably from sem- one + -cerus (akin to Latin crescere to grow) — more at same, crescent

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sincere was in 1533

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sincere. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

sincere

adjective
sin·​cere sin-ˈsi(ə)r How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sincerer; sincerest
1
: trustworthy, straightforward
a sincere friend
2
: genuine sense 1, real
a sincere interest in painting
sincerely adverb
sincerity
-ˈser-ət-ē
-ˈsir-
noun

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