honest
1 of 2adjective
hon·est ˈä-nəst 
1
a
: free from fraud or deception : legitimate, truthful
an honest plea
an honest presentation of facts
b
: genuine, real
making honest stops at stop signs 
Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor c
: humble, plain
good honest food
2
a
: reputable, respectable
honest decent people
b
chiefly British : good, worthy
an honest fellow
3
: worthy of praise
an honest day's work
put forth an honest effort
4
a
: marked by integrity
honest merchants
b
: marked by free, forthright, and sincere expression : frank
an honest appraisal
an honest discussion
c
: direct and uncomplicated : innocent, simple
some good honest sleep
honest
2 of 2adverb
1
: in a genuine or honest (see honest entry 1) manner : honestly
I have ever found thee honest true William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
: with all sincerity
I didn't do it, honest
Synonyms
Adjective
- truthful
- veracious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective He says that it's impossible to find an honest politician. These criminals pose a danger to honest citizens. He has an honest face. Just give me an honest answer. If you want my honest opinion, you should get a job. To be perfectly honest, I don't want to go. He gave us a painfully honest account of his childhood. It was an honest error. He still goes to the office every morning and puts in an honest day's work. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Tim Carman, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 To be honest, removing the front lawn was not only about saving water. Christian Vescia, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Taylor Mims: To be honest, the song doesn’t have much of Britney at all. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2022 To be honest, the math needed to fully understand angular momentum can get a little ugly. WIRED, 4 Sep. 2022 Three thousand years, to be honest, means an awful lot of longing. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 As long as most network participants are honest, users can have confidence that transactions accepted by a majority of the network won't be removed or modified later. Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 19 Aug. 2022 The consent decree has kept that department honest, the, the monitor has been the watchdog who has repeatedly come forward with ways. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022 That was actually a huge piece of wanting to make this second one for me, to be honest. Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Adjective
To be honest, the garlic guajillo steak sounds, based on the ingredient list alone, a lot like the preparation for the pollo asado, though, as always, the devil is in the details. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 To be honest, removing the front lawn was not only about saving water. Christian Vescia, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Taylor Mims: To be honest, the song doesn’t have much of Britney at all. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2022 To be honest, the math needed to fully understand angular momentum can get a little ugly. WIRED, 4 Sep. 2022 Three thousand years, to be honest, means an awful lot of longing. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 As long as most network participants are honest, users can have confidence that transactions accepted by a majority of the network won't be removed or modified later. Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, 19 Aug. 2022 The consent decree has kept that department honest, the, the monitor has been the watchdog who has repeatedly come forward with ways. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022 That was actually a huge piece of wanting to make this second one for me, to be honest. Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Adverb
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin honestus honorable, from honos, honor honor
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing honest
Kids Definition
honest
adjective
hon·est ˈä-nəst
1
: not engaging in or involving cheating, stealing, or lying
an honest citizen
an honest living
2
: not marked by lies or trickery : straightforward
an honest answer
3
: being just what is indicated : real, genuine
He did an honest day's work.
honest
adjective
1
as in truthful
being in the habit of telling the truth at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- truthful
- outspoken
- reliable
- conscientious
- frank
- genuine
- candid
- credible
- true
- plain
- veracious
- forthright
- unaffected
- direct
- earnest
- forthcoming
- plainspoken
- believable
- openhearted
- moral
- open
- guileless
- trustworthy
- unpretentious
- scrupulous
- dependable
- artless
- unpretending
- principled
- free-spoken
- veritable
- aboveboard
- foursquare
- out-front
- freehearted
- trustable
- trusty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dishonest
- untruthful
- lying
- mendacious
- false
- untrue
- unscrupulous
- unreliable
- unbelievable
- untrustworthy
- fallacious
- hypocritical
- fibbing
- pretending
- insincere
- undependable
- duplicitous
- prevaricating
- deceptive
- evasive
- artful
- deceitful
- sly
- sneaky
- wily
- tricky
- devious
- treacherous
- underhanded
- slick
- slippery
- dissembling
- dissimulating
- equivocating
- bluffing
- posing
2
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk Synonyms & Similar Words
- honorable
- ethical
- true
- nice
- good
- decent
- moral
- virtuous
- noble
- worthy
- respected
- righteous
- upright
- just
- straight
- all right
- right
- correct
- pure
- principled
- legitimate
- right-minded
- proper
- innocent
- scrupulous
- creditable
- commendable
- decorous
- exemplary
- reputable
- upstanding
- clean
- incorruptible
- high-minded
- seemly
- irreproachable
- uncorrupted
- blameless
- inoffensive
- guiltless
- law-abiding
- unobjectionable
- esteemed
- immaculate
- moralistic
- sanctimonious
- spotless
- incorrupt
- menschy
- unerring
- angelic
- self-righteous
- pharisaical
- incorrupted
- angelical
- rectitudinous
- goody-goody
- lily-white
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dishonest
- bad
- wrong
- evil
- unethical
- wicked
- dishonorable
- sinful
- immoral
- indecent
- improper
- incorrect
- naughty
- unrighteous
- unscrupulous
- unseemly
- unbecoming
- indecorous
- corrupt
- depraved
- perverted
- unprincipled
- dissolute
- debased
- degenerate
- debauched
- libertine
- low
- atrocious
- vicious
- villainous
- mean
- evil-minded
- vile
- infamous
- base
- offensive
- objectionable
- reprobate
- blameworthy
- iniquitous
- nefarious
- erring
- fallen
- errant
3
as in ethical
following the accepted rules of moral conduct an honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change Synonyms & Similar Words
- honorable
- ethical
- respectable
- decent
- principled
- noble
- upstanding
- conscientious
- righteous
- good
- upright
- just
- nice
- polite
- scrupulous
- fair
- respected
- chivalrous
- classy
- virtuous
- unimpeachable
- irreproachable
- blameless
- proper
- guiltless
- moral
- incorruptible
- unassailable
- stand-up
- reputable
- uncorrupted
- high-minded
- right-minded
- menschy
- decorous
- seemly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dishonest
- unworthy
- unjust
- low
- unethical
- unprincipled
- dishonorable
- criminal
- bad
- ignoble
- base
- evil
- unfair
- unrighteous
- sinful
- immoral
- mean
- reprehensible
- crooked
- rotten
- unscrupulous
- roguish
- corrupt
- nefarious
- iniquitous
- wicked
- vile
- rascally
- wretched
- villainous
- knavish
- culpable
- shameful
- censurable
- loose
- blameworthy
- disgraceful
- scoundrelly
- blamable
- venal
- depraved
- perverse
- perverted
- blackguardly
- profligate
- dissolute
- decadent
- degraded
- demoralized
- degenerate
- debased
- debauched
- libertine
- dissipated
- disreputable
- reprobate
4
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good Synonyms & Similar Words
- genuine
- unaffected
- simple
- true
- innocent
- sincere
- naive
- real
- straightforward
- guileless
- unpretentious
- ingenuous
- spontaneous
- inexperienced
- candid
- artless
- unpretending
- natural
- frank
- naïve
- trustful
- trusting
- open
- unsophisticated
- childlike
- direct
- plainspoken
- impressionable
- persuadable
- openhearted
- unforced
- unworldly
- malleable
- simpleminded
- on the level
- plain
- unstudied
- free
- persuasible
- unguarded
- straight
- gullible
- wide-eyed
- dewy-eyed
- single-minded
- free-spoken
- gee-whiz
- susceptible
- exploitable
- gullable
- unwary
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dishonest
- critical
- false
- assuming
- cynical
- skeptical
- artful
- artificial
- insincere
- pretentious
- wary
- fake
- suspicious
- affected
- phony
- sophisticated
- phoney
- mistrustful
- worldly
- polished
- civilized
- cosmopolitan
- deceptive
- cultured
- hypocritical
- guileful
- refined
- dissembling
- deceitful
- shrewd
- manipulative
- subtle
- dissimulating
- cultivated
- smooth
- cunning
- devious
- crooked
- sly
- sharp
- crafty
- tricky
- wily
- shifty
- flattering
- worldly-wise
- slick
- underhanded
- designing
- calculating
- slippery
- foxy
- scheming
- sycophantic
- unctuous
- two-faced
- canny
- feigned
- forced
- strained
- arch
- knavish
- double-dealing
- mealymouthed
5
as in candid
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear Synonyms & Similar Words
- candid
- outspoken
- frank
- straightforward
- forthcoming
- forthright
- open
- direct
- blunt
- earnest
- vocal
- plainspoken
- openhearted
- sincere
- straight
- naive
- plain
- real
- unguarded
- unreserved
- unaffected
- up-front
- outgoing
- free-spoken
- guileless
- unpretentious
- ingenuous
- rude
- artless
- foursquare
- innocent
- freehearted
- gruff
- out-front
- unpretending
- uninhibited
- naïve
- vociferous
- natural
- brusque
- sharp
- unrestrained
- curt
- abrupt
- undesigning
- tactless
- thoughtless
- impolite
- bluff
- crusty
- undiplomatic
- ungracious
- unsubtle
- inconsiderate
- impertinent
- uncivil
- unmannerly
- brusk
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quiet
- uncandid
- restrained
- laconic
- reticent
- unforthcoming
- tactful
- ambiguous
- evasive
- taciturn
- reserved
- inhibited
- polite
- courteous
- dissembling
- uncommunicative
- equivocal
- diplomatic
- considerate
- civil
- politic
- circuitous
- close-mouthed
- tight-lipped
6
as in conscientious
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria Synonyms & Similar Words
- honorable
- conscientious
- ethical
- moral
- scrupulous
- good
- principled
- respectful
- responsible
- just
- decent
- worthy
- true
- reliable
- virtuous
- trustworthy
- conscionable
- dutiful
- righteous
- upright
- observant
- respected
- straight
- solid
- right-minded
- upstanding
- reputable
- overconscientious
- esteemed
- trusty
- law-abiding
- tried-and-true
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dishonest
- unscrupulous
- unjust
- unethical
- unprincipled
- bad
- dishonorable
- immoral
- cutthroat
- evil
- unconscionable
- wicked
- sinful
- immoral
- indecent
- unreliable
- untrustworthy
- unrighteous
- corrupt
- depraved
- perverted
- dissolute
- debased
- degenerate
- debauched
- atrocious
- low
- vicious
- villainous
- mean
- evil-minded
- infamous
- vile
- base
- reprobate
- iniquitous
- nefarious
7
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking Synonyms & Similar Words
- genuine
- authentic
- true
- real
- original
- certified
- pure
- actual
- for real
- dinkum
- bona fide
- unmistakable
- very
- historical
- certifiable
- right
- legitimate
- accurate
- identifiable
- echt
- verifiable
- legal
- pukka
- sure-enough
- lawful
- pucka
- verified
- proven
- validated
- substantiated
- unquestionable
- irrefutable
- correct
- recognizable
- indisputable
- unadulterated
- undeniable
- incontrovertible
- proper
- indubitable
- undoubted
- incontestable
- unalloyed
- veritable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- false
- fake
- unreal
- bogus
- phony
- spurious
- mock
- pseudo
- phoney
- counterfeit
- imitation
- sham
- artificial
- synthetic
- unnatural
- supposititious
- unauthentic
- simulated
- factitious
- misleading
- deceptive
- suppositious
- manufactured
- delusive
- fabricated
- concocted
- man-made
- delusory
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of honest are conscientious, honorable, just, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.
known for being honest in business dealings
Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.
conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will
The meanings of honorable and honest largely overlap; however, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.
a difficult but honorable decision
While the synonyms just and honest are close in meaning, just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.
workers given just compensation
The words upright and honest can be used in similar contexts, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.
a stern and upright minister