Meaning & use
dishonest
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not telling the truth or not acting fairly; willing to lie, cheat, or deceive.
Grammar: Used to describe people or actions: a dishonest person, a dishonest answer. Can be graded: very dishonest, more dishonest.
Patterns
- dishonest with someone
- dishonest about something
- it is dishonest to do something
He was dishonest about where he had been that night.
It is dishonest to take credit for someone else's work.
She felt he had been dishonest with her from the start.
adjectivecomparable
Relating to or involving cheating or fraud, especially in business or official matters.
Grammar: Often used before a noun: dishonest dealings, dishonest practices. Can also be used predicatively: the deal was dishonest.
Patterns
- dishonest practices
- dishonest dealings
- dishonest gain
The company was fined for dishonest business practices.
He was accused of making dishonest statements to the court.
They uncovered a pattern of dishonest behavior among the staff.
Word forms
| comparative | more dishonest |
|---|---|
| superlative | most dishonest |
Common combinations
- dishonest with someone
- I felt she had been dishonest with me about the money.
- dishonest about something
- He was dishonest about his qualifications on the application.
- dishonest practices
- The bank was investigated for dishonest practices.
- dishonest gain
- He was charged with obtaining money by dishonest gain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- untruthful
- Focuses specifically on telling lies; 'dishonest' is broader and can also mean cheating or acting unfairly.
- deceitful
- Stronger and more formal, suggesting a habit of deliberately misleading people; 'dishonest' can describe a single act.
- corrupt
- Usually refers to abuse of power or bribery, especially in official contexts; 'dishonest' is more general.
Opposites
Word family
- dishonesty noun
- The quality of being dishonest; a dishonest act.
- dishonestly adverb
- In a dishonest manner.
Commonly confused: dishonest or unhonest?
dishonest vs unhonest
Not a standard word; the correct opposite of 'honest' is 'dishonest'.
Practice
Choose the best word: 'She was _____ about her age to get the job.'
Choose one answer.
'Dishonest' is the adjective needed after 'was' to describe the person. 'Dishonesty' is a noun, 'dishonestly' is an adverb, and 'honest' would reverse the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dishonest”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.