honest

adjective

ˈä-nəst How to pronounce honest (audio)
Definition of honestnext
1
as in truthful
being in the habit of telling the truth at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable

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2
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk

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3
as in ethical
following the accepted rules of moral conduct an honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change

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4
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good

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5
as in candid
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear

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6
as in conscientious
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria

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7
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective honest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of honest are conscientious, honorable, just, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

How do conscientious and scrupulous relate to one another, in the sense of honest?

Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

When would honorable be a good substitute for honest?

The meanings of honorable and honest largely overlap; however, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

Where would just be a reasonable alternative to honest?

While the synonyms just and honest are close in meaning, just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

When might upright be a better fit than honest?

The words upright and honest can be used in similar contexts, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

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 honest Review your income and expenses Setting a realistic savings goal starts with taking an honest look at what’s coming in and what’s going out. — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 General Daily Insight for September 29, 2026 Reassurance may be tempting, but today asks for something more honest. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026 While school options in Arkansas may vary, all families can begin at the same place, by taking an honest look at their child's day-to-day experience. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026 Clearly impressed with Maxey’s dedication and pluck, James asked him for an honest evaluation of the Sixers. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for honest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honest
  1. outspoken
  2. honorable
  3. ethical
  4. genuine
  5. candid
  6. conscientious
  7. authentic
  8. truthful
Adjective
  • Debra Tate, Sharon Tate’s sister, has been an outspoken advocate for keeping Krenwinkel and other former followers of Manson behind bars.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Many industry critics were also outspoken when Netflix's studio and streaming deal was on the table, with particular focus on the future of movies staying in theaters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of outspoken
Adjective
  • Too bad that New York’s LG Delgado didn’t take the same honorable path and walk away.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • While some might argue that Murphy is an antihero, Hawke viewed him as an honorable man.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • The Science and Technology in Society Forum is intended as a venue for leaders to discuss how to maximize the benefits of science and address ethical and safety issues.
    — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Warsh promised to be an independent leader, with high ethical standards, whom markets and the public could trust.
    — Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of ethical
Adjective
  • And Steward’s emphasis on cultivating a genuine connection to his players fit naturally with the culture Chesney vowed to instill in Westwood.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Companies have achieved genuine breakthroughs in locomotion, perception and manipulation.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • The outstanding artwork of the exhibition, Goldin’s slideshow, largely devoted to candid portraits of friends, many shot in her Bowery loft, remains stunningly raw.
    — J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier this week, the artist posted a classic photo dump filled with images of her pitbull Shark (a former Dogue cover star), a pumpkin patch, and other candid snapshots from her life recently.
    — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of candid
Adjective
  • The output of such organizations affects everyone, and a conscientious official may reasonably fear that exiting in a crisis will only accelerate it.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Almost 7% of Tarrant County kindergarteners had a conscientious exemption to at least one vaccine in the 2025-26 school year, up from 3% five years ago, according to state data.
    — Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of conscientious
Adjective
  • Through its authentic portrayal of professional equestrian sport, the show aims to offer a rare glimpse into a fascinating world, one that’s defined by prestige, pressure to perform and tradition.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • However, this is a stellar opportunity to dig into excellent, authentic Thai dishes (no punches held on sour or spice), and the Thai Wok Omelet with blue crab and morning glory at breakfast is exceedingly memorable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of authentic
Adjective
  • My responsibility to the audience to tell a truthful story with these characters, not the actors.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Under a plea agreement disclosed during a hearing in Miami federal court, Saab agreed to submit to debriefings by prosecutors and federal agents, provide truthful information and testify if called.
    — Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of truthful

Phrases Containing honest

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hones in (on)
honest
honest broker
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Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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