disingenuous

[ dis-in-jen-yoo-uhs ]

adjective

1. lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere:

   Her excuse was rather disingenuous.

disingenuous

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs /

adjective

1. not sincere; lacking candour

Derived Forms

• ˌdisinˈgenuousness, noun
• ˌdisinˈgenuously, adverb

Other Words From

• disin·genu·ous·ly adverb
• disin·genu·ous·ness noun
• nondis·in·genu·ous adjective
• nondis·in·genu·ous·ly adverb
• nondis·in·genu·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disingenuous¹

First recorded in 1645–55; dis- ¹ + ingenuous

Example Sentences

How does one support gender equality without coming across as disingenuous or, even worse, as pandering?

From The Daily Beast

He would rather endorse someone with genuine doubts than someone with disingenuous beliefs.

From The Daily Beast

And he did it with arguments that many civil libertarians found disingenuous, at best.

From The Daily Beast

But the crown itself (or headband or cluster of buds) screams disingenuous.

From The Daily Beast

There is something disingenuous about his playing both instigator and victim.

From The Daily Beast

Still she was the first to speak; since Eau-douce could utter naught that would be disingenuous, or that would pain his friend.

From Project Gutenberg

"You know quite well what I mean," continued Mrs. Lascelles, with a genuine smile at my disingenuous face.

From Project Gutenberg

All this is, of course, manifestly disingenuous, and does not impose on Heriot's superiors in the general post office.

From Project Gutenberg

This somewhat disingenuous argument created a profound impression.

From Project Gutenberg

It is disingenuous to endeavor to conceal these facts, and to mislead ordinary citizens about them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deceitful
• dishonest
• false
• unfair