honesty

[ on-uh-stee ]

See synonyms for honesty on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural hon·es·ties.

the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness.
truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.

freedom from deceit or fraud.
Botany. a plant, Lunaria annua, of the mustard family, having clusters of purple flowers and semitransparent, satiny pods.
Obsolete. chastity.

Origin of honesty

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English honeste, from Middle French, from Latin honestās; see honest, -ty²

synonym study For honesty

1. See honor.

Other words for honesty

1	integrity, probity, rectitude
2	candor, veracity

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Opposites for honesty

1	dishonesty

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Other words from honesty

o·ver·hon·es·ty, noun

Words Nearby honesty

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use honesty in a sentence

I think a lot of it has to do with the attitude and the energy behind it and the honesty.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
There was so much beauty, talent, potential, and most importantly, honesty in your work.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen | Parker Molloy | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
However, intellectual honesty is the first thing to go when you are forced to constantly pander to your base.
Rush Limbaugh’s Fear of a Black James Bond | Dean Obeidallah | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
For instance, how do you balance honesty with any protective urge?
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination | Mindy Farabee | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Her followers love her honesty and the popularity of the blog grows.
Meet Zoella—The Newbie Author Whose Book Sales Topped J.K. Rowling | Lucy Scholes | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

"It was very good of you to go to London," said Gordon, looking at him with all the old serious honesty of his eyes.
Confidence | Henry James
Obstinate as he was, the girl's frank honesty conquered the angry old man.
The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie
But he met the doctor's gaze unflinchingly across the fire, and with complete honesty.
Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon Blackwood
Thoughts of Walter Fetherston, the man in whose eyes had shone the light of true honesty when he spoke, arose within her.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
Give us common sense, and common honesty, and a "steady supply of men and women who can be trusted with small sums."
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford

British Dictionary definitions for honesty

honesty

/ (ˈɒnɪstɪ) /

nounplural -ties

the condition of being honest
sincerity or fairness

archaic virtue or respect
Also called: moonwort, satinpod a purple-flowered SE European plant, Lunaria annua, cultivated for its flattened silvery pods, which are used for indoor decoration: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

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

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