adjective
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telling or expressing the truth; honest or candid
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realistic
a truthful portrayal of the king
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of truthful
Explanation
Truthful means honest or believable. A truthful answer to a question doesn't mince words—it is completely straightforward and accurate. If your little sister asks you whether the Tooth Fairy is real, you'll have to consider how truthful you want to be. You can think about whether the truthful answer will be to upsetting for her, since you're not under oath in a courtroom, where you're legally obligated to be truthful. A now-obsolete adjective with the same meaning was truthy, "characterized by truth."
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.
"Travellers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history."
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Costume designer Mirren Gordon-Crozier says via email that her conversations with Fanning “centered around making Margo feel emotionally truthful rather than overly styled.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
But beyond the animation itself, the writing was always truthful.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
“I believe I am a truthful person,” Mr. Altman responded.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
If she had wanted to carry me on her shoulders, I would have been fine with that, too, to be truthful.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
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.
