sincere

adjective

sin·​cere sin-ˈsir How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sən-
sincerer; sincerest
1
a
: free of dissimulation : honest
a sincere interest
b
: free from adulteration : pure
a sincere doctrine
sincere wine
2
: marked by genuineness : true
sincereness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sincere

sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned mean genuine in feeling.

sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Examples of sincere in a Sentence

He sounded sincere in his promises. She seemed sincere in her commitment to finish school. She has a sincere interest in painting. He showed a sincere concern for her health. He made a sincere attempt to quit smoking. Please accept our sincere thanks.
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.
That is the sincerest and most powerful form of self-care. Courtney Smith, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 Huddleston brings a gregarious energy to the role — a sort of Santa-as-Kenny Rogers down-home father figure with a raspy voice and a sincere love of children. Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024 Others offered themselves as mediators in the sincere (or insincere) hope of minimizing the war’s direct and ancillary costs or even of ending it altogether. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024 Despite meeting more than 10 external leaders, the CEO ultimately promoted their operations director due to a long-standing, trusting relationship and the internal candidate’s sincere enthusiasm for the role. Gina Riley, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sincere 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin sincerus whole, pure, genuine, probably from sem- one + -cerus (akin to Latin crescere to grow) — more at same, crescent

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sincere was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near sincere

Cite this Entry

“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sincere. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sincere

adjective
sin·​cere sin-ˈsi(ə)r How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sincerer; sincerest
1
: trustworthy, straightforward
a sincere friend
2
: genuine sense 1, real
a sincere interest in painting
sincerely adverb
sincerity
-ˈser-ət-ē
-ˈsir-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sincere

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!