dishonesty

[ dis-on-uh-stee ]

/ dɪsˈɒn ə sti /

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See synonyms for dishonesty on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural dis·hon·es·ties.

lack of honesty; a disposition to lie, cheat, or steal.

a dishonest act; fraud.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of dishonesty

First recorded in 1350–1400, dishonesty is from the Middle English word deshonestee.See dis-¹, honesty

Words nearby dishonesty

dishevelled, dishful, dish gravy, dish night, dishonest, dishonesty, dishonor, dishonorable, dishonorable discharge, dishonour, dishonourable

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

MORE ABOUT DISHONESTY

What does dishonesty mean?

Dishonesty is the opposite of honesty—it’s the act or practice of being intentionally deceptive or not fully truthful in some way.

When a person is accused of dishonesty, it usually means they are frequently or habitually untruthful—that they tend to lie often or that they often hide or leave out part of the truth.

Dishonesty involves being intentionally deceptive—deceiving people or misleading them through lies, the omission of all or parts of the truth, or the twisting of the truth.

The adjective dishonest is used to describe someone or something as intentionally deceptive or not fully truthful in some way.

Example: The level of your dishonesty is astounding—I can’t believe a word you say.

Where does dishonesty come from?

The first records of the word dishonesty come from the 1300s. The prefix dis- means “not.”

Honesty is actually pretty simple—it involves telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Dishonesty involves all different kinds of ways of being deceptive, including telling lies, hiding or leaving out parts of the truth, or using a mix of truth and lies to mislead or deceive. Just because you’re not lying doesn’t mean you’re not engaging in dishonesty.

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What are some other forms related to dishonesty?

dishonest (adjective)

What are some synonyms for dishonesty?

What are some words that share a root or word element with dishonesty?

What are some words that often get used in discussing dishonesty?

How is dishonesty used in real life?

Dishonesty is always used negatively.

A visual reminder that the Capitol riot was the culmination of months of dishonesty, not hours of it. https://t.co/yLtaihfof8

— Philip Bump (@pbump) February 11, 2021

I really loathe dishonesty.

— Sandisile🌙 (@SineKeepeng) February 12, 2021

A student #developer has had his indigenous language #app restored to the #AppStore, and #Apple has apologized for removing it on mistaken grounds of fraud and dishonesty. https://t.co/kVvzZKwFQi pic.twitter.com/vImDmI5n3a

— AppleInsider (@appleinsider) February 10, 2021

Try using dishonest!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of dishonesty?

A. deceit
B. duplicity
C. deception
D. confusion

How to use dishonesty in a sentence

When you look at talk radio and Fox News today, the most successful employ the same model of dishonesty and manipulation of their audience.
Rush Limbaugh Leaves Behind a Conservative Movement No Longer Interested in Truth. That Alarms Me as a Conservative|Joe Walsh|February 17, 2021|Time
This area of dishonesty I find most troubling because it is pervasive in the conservative media world and Limbaugh led the way on lies and disinformation for most of his career.
Rush Limbaugh Leaves Behind a Conservative Movement No Longer Interested in Truth. That Alarms Me as a Conservative|Joe Walsh|February 17, 2021|Time
Using tactics of stealth, manipulation, and bold-faced dishonesty, she follows the imperative of her heart into progressively dangerous, even illegal action.
Lesbian love story becomes thriller in ‘Two of Us’|John Paul King|February 4, 2021|Washington Blade
He refuses to look at a mountain of corruption & dishonesty.
As coronavirus soars, hospitals hope to avoid an agonizing choice: Who gets care and who goes home|Darryl Fears, Joel Achenbach, Brittney Martin|November 12, 2020|Washington Post

So clearly the scale of dishonesty continues to climb in presidential elections.
The biggest Pinocchios of Election 2020|Glenn Kessler|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
To run towards burning buildings and struggling neighbors, dishonesty, corruption, and abuse.
The NRA’s Multimillion-Dollar New Ad Campaign Is Despicable|Michael Daly|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Palestinians and their sympathizers can point out the unscrupulous dishonesty and duplicity of the Israeli occupiers.
Acclaimed Israeli Film 'Bethlehem' Brings the Occupation Back Into Our Homes|Daniel Gavron|October 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Which is why Obama needs to clearly expose its dishonesty in his State of the Union, says Michael Tomasky.
SOTU Advice: Hammer the GOP|Michael Tomasky|February 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There exists a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that ideologically committed voters almost encourage dishonesty.
2012 Presidential Campaign Said to Hit Unprecedented Level of Lying|Michael Moynihan|November 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Not to be outdone, Langford fired back, slamming Christie for dishonesty and for playing politics.
Which Politician Best Navigated Hurricane Sandy’s Surge?|Michelle Cottle|October 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Some men find it perfectly easy to resist allurements to dishonesty which others can not resist.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
The singular dishonesty of M. Guizot and his master startled the politicians of Europe.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
There are some legislators who regard moral cowardice as a virtue, and political dishonesty as a desirable kingcraft.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman
If we consult human nature, the only causes to which we can assign this reticence are, conscientious cowardice and dishonesty.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman
It is not, in public meetings, or in parliament, permitted to any speaker to accuse an adversary of falsehood or dishonesty.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman

British Dictionary definitions for dishonesty

dishonesty

/ (dɪsˈɒnɪstɪ) /

noun plural -ties

lack of honesty or fairness; deceit

a deceiving act or statement; fraud

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

dishonesty

Origin of dishonesty

Words nearby dishonesty

MORE ABOUT DISHONESTY

What does dishonesty mean?

Where does dishonesty come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is dishonesty used in real life?

Try using dishonest!

Words related to dishonesty

How to use dishonesty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dishonesty