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Synonyms

insincere

American  
[in-sin-seer] / ˌɪn sɪnˈsɪər /

adjective

  1. not sincere; not honest in the expression of actual feeling; hypocritical.

    Synonyms:
    two-faced, guileful, disingenuous, deceitful
insincere British  
/ ˌɪnsɪnˈsɪə, ˌɪnsɪnˈsɛrɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. lacking sincerity; hypocritical

"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

  • insincerely adverb
  • insincerity noun

Etymology

Origin of insincere

1625–35; < Latin insincērus tainted, dishonest; in- 3, sincere

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.

They’re insincere and elitist and out of touch and smug in many respects, from the perspective of a young man.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

If time doesn’t allow for this, Fitzgerald says, it is often considered better to slip away than to appear rushed or insincere in a curt goodbye.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

The apology still drew criticism, with some calling it "insincere" given it was written in Finnish.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

"We are not going to bend in the face of this insincere outrage," Leavitt told reporters at the White House.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2025

When Lyra was younger, he had taken an interest in her spiritual welfare, only to be confounded by her sly indifference and insincere repentances.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

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.