honest

1 of 2

adjective

hon·​est ˈä-nəst How to pronounce honest (audio)
Synonyms of honestnext
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
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 2

adverb

1
: in a genuine or honest (see honest entry 1) manner : honestly
I have ever found thee honest true—William Shakespeare
2
: with all sincerity
I didn't do it, honest

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for honest

upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right.

upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

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

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

Examples of honest in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Stick to transparent, honest consent methods that respect users and ensure compliance. —Ian Cohen, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 Simard: Some of it is just combined with comedy in general, to be honest. —Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024 Yet perhaps the original, enduring impulse that gave us habitual millennial-shaming, which has lately given way to 24/7 zoomer-shaming, represents a kind of honest concern. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024 But 100% honest, Caroline and Sue were my ideal Final 3. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for honest 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin honestus honorable, from honos, honor honor

Adverb

derivative of honest entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of honest was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing honest

Dictionary Entries Near honest

hone in on

honest

honest broker

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honest. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

honest

1 of 2 adjective
hon·​est ˈän-əst How to pronounce honest (audio)
1
: free from fraud or trickery : truthful
an honest plea
2
: being just what is indicated : genuine, real
made an honest mistake
3
: good in the eyes of society : respectable
poor but honest people
4
: trustworthy
5
: frank, open

honest

2 of 2 adverb
: to tell the truth : I mean it
I didn't do it, honest I didn't

More from Merriam-Webster on honest

Nglish: Translation of honest for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of honest for Arabic Speakers

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