Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

disingenuous

American  
[dis-in-jen-yoo-uhs] / ˌdɪs ɪnˈdʒɛn yu əs /

adjective

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

    Her excuse was rather disingenuous.
disingenuous British  
/ ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs /

adjective

  1. not sincere; lacking candour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • disingenuously adverb
  • disingenuousness noun
  • nondisingenuous adjective
  • nondisingenuously adverb
  • nondisingenuousness noun

Etymology

Origin of disingenuous

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“But it would be disingenuous to pretend AI doesn’t change the mix of skills we need or the number of roles required in certain areas. It does,” he added.

From Barron's

Former officials have told the BBC that it is "disingenuous" for the Cabinet Office to state that there had only been a single official complaint.

From BBC

That’s not to say that the movie doesn’t have plenty of fascinating industry insider details to grab onto, or that it’s at all disingenuous, only that it lacks focus.

From Salon

There is no escaping the fact they are one of the best payers in Europe, and it would be disingenuous to suggest finances weren't a big factor in the two new signings.

From BBC

“I had a scenario where an agent called the police on me. They are intentionally trying to frame the situation in ways that are completely disingenuous,” Arteaga recalled.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.