sincerity
Americannoun
Related Words
See honor.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sincerity
First recorded in 1540–50; from the Latin word sincēritās; see sincere, -ity
Explanation
Sincerity is a mix of seriousness and honesty. If you do things with sincerity, people will trust you. Along with patience and compassion, sincerity is one of those qualities we all probably wish we had more of — and wish other people had more of, too. People who show sincerity are being serious, kind, and truthful. Politicians who show sincerity tend to do well because people believe them. An apology full of sincerity will probably be accepted. On the other hand, if you show no sincerity — by being sarcastic or dismissive — well, who wants an apology like that?
Vocabulary lists containing sincerity
Beowulf: A New Telling
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John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
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List 8
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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.
Pacing the stage at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on the last night of her fall 2025 tour, she traded her typical sardonicism for high-pitched sincerity.
From Slate • May 6, 2026
Annette Benning and Ed Harris co-star, so at least Sheridan is — in all sincerity — doing an A+ job of keeping Hollywood’s greatest actors of a certain age employed.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026
China will welcome Trump, Wen said, if the US leader comes with "genuine sincerity".
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
But many users expressed scepticism of his sincerity.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
“It’s definitely more complicated, given the cultural scripts we’ve all grown up with,” said Woolner, who has a master’s degree in counseling and radiates a thoughtful sincerity.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
