adj

honest

ON-ihst

adj

Telling the truth and not inclined to lie, cheat, or steal.

"She's always been honest with me, even when the truth was uncomfortable."

"An honest mistake is very different from a deliberate lie."

Sincere and fair, without hidden motives.

"I'd appreciate your honest opinion on the draft."

How to Use Honest

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTruthful and trustworthy — not lying, cheating, or hiding things.

Common mistake

The "h" is silent, so it's used with "an" — "an honest man", not "a honest man".

Common pairings

honest mistake honest opinion honest living brutally honest

Word Forms

more honest comparative, honester comparative, more honest comparative, honested past tense, honests singular, most honest superlative, honestest superlative, most honest superlative

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She's always been _____ with me, even when the truth was uncomfortable.

Etymology

From Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, related to honor.

Synonyms

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earnest fair dinkum forthright upfront foursquare frank genuine legitimate on the level on the up-and-up square straight

Antonyms

dishonest hypocritical insincere shady

Related Words

square plaza light straight spurious dark sharp homosexual

Rhymes for honest

dishonest

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earnest fair dinkum forthright upfront foursquare frank genuine legitimate on the level on the up-and-up square straight