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.

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 honesty Nelson initially spoke to the pair about the need for transparency and honesty in general, even when conversations can be uncomfortable. —Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025 But from our testing, this frequency amounts to a rare honesty. —Simon Hill, Wired News, 31 Mar. 2025 Neptune entering into Aries tests your honesty and compassion with others. —Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025 My honesty got me in trouble, might as well keep getting me in trouble. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for honesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honesty
  1. integrity
  2. morality
  3. honor
  4. sincerity
  5. virtue
  6. reliability
  7. goodness
  8. directness
Noun
  • King’s willingness to take a seat on the rocket, a ride that could be valued in the six figures, has furthermore raised questions about her journalistic integrity and the news values of CBS News, where journalists are not supposed to take freebies.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    — Janet B. Carson, Arkansas Online, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of integrity
Noun
  • Approval from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, much like the morality police, requires artists to master abstraction, ensuring their work remains powerful yet permissible.
    — Rebecca Ruth Gould, JSTOR Daily, 9 Apr. 2025
  • An anti-Disney morality tale seeks modern morality.
    — Armond White, National Review, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of morality
Noun
  • The actor has also received Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and Tony Award nominations, as well as a BAFTA Award, two Independent Spirit Awards and four NAACP Image Awards, among myriad honors.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In 1986, Workman was a recipient of a 1986 National Heritage Fellowship, the U.S. government’s highest honor in the folk arts.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of honor
Noun
  • Shifting ground Economic and supply chain experts note that the sincerity of Trump's tariff rates remains uncertain, with many expecting them to be lowered based on negotiations between the Trump administration and individual countries.
    — Dylan Butts,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • While men and women exhibit similar frequencies in over-apologizing, the habit can undermine professional authority and dilute the sincerity of genuine apologies.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Modern business culture is in a constant state of evolution, and what was once seen as a virtue can sometimes be misinterpreted as a vice.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Rather, the influencers who extol offal’s virtues seem to do so on the basis of its nutrient density.
    — Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of virtue
Noun
  • How utilities choose which power source to invest in depends in large part on two key aspects: price and reliability.
    — Erin Baker, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Customer experience also helps with increasing trust and reliability.
    — Janita Pannu, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of reliability
Noun
  • In 2022 alone, the state shipped nearly $24 billion of nuts, rice, tomatoes and other tasty goodness around the world.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Jones was a tremendous raconteur and an even better writer—his words, my goodness.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of goodness
Noun
  • Many leaders around the world are raised on the values of speaking plainly and cutting through the noise, yet even in cultures that champion directness there’s a time and a place for restraint.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Such directness might be needed from Emery’s side, given the aggression and tightness of the PSG press this season.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of directness

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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 24 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on honesty

Nglish: Translation of honesty for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about honesty

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