insincere
Not meaning it
Insincere describes words or behavior that don't reflect genuine feeling—saying something you don't mean, or acting in ways calculated to deceive.
An insincere apology lacks real remorse.
Insincere flattery aims to manipulate rather than express admiration.
The word suggests a gap between outward expression and inner truth: His smile seemed insincere.
Not the real thing
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- contrivedDeliberately manufactured, unnatural
- forcedMade to occur unwillingly
- plasticCapable of being molded
manufactured · put-on · affected · stilted · unnatural · pretentious · superficial · ersatz
Inclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
- dishonestInclined to deceive
untruthful · two-faced · hypocritical · guileful · fraudulent · lying · mendacious · double-dealing
Holding nothing inside
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- shallowWithout much depth
- vacuousEmpty of content
token · lip-service · perfunctory · half-hearted · nominal · cursory · mechanical · rote
Servilely flattering
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- ingratiatingSeeking favor through flattery
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
smooth · silver-tongued · oily · slick · glib · suave · oleaginous · buttery
fake
Not the real thing
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- contrivedDeliberately manufactured, unnatural
- forcedMade to occur unwillingly
plastic · manufactured · put-on · affected · stilted · unnatural · pretentious · superficial · ersatz · synthetic
deceitful
Inclined to mislead others
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- falseNot matching reality
dishonest · untruthful · two-faced · hypocritical · guileful · fraudulent · lying · mendacious · double-dealing · treacherous
empty
Holding nothing inside
- meaninglessLacking significance or purpose
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- shallowWithout much depth
vacuous · token · lip-service · perfunctory · half-hearted · nominal · cursory · mechanical · rote · dutiful
sycophantic
Servilely flattering
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- ingratiatingSeeking favor through flattery
obsequious · smooth · silver-tongued · oily · slick · glib · suave · oleaginous · buttery · saccharine
- IN- wordsinactive, incomplete, invisible, inside, indoor
- arrogancearrogant, conceited, pompous, vain, haughty
- Overblown Wordspompous, bombastic, grandiose, inflated, overblown
- sentimentalitymawkish, schmaltzy, saccharine, treacly, cloying
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, real, fake, counterfeit
insincerecandid
Honest and direct
frank · forthright · open · straightforward · direct
insincereheartfelt
Deeply and sincerely meant
wholehearted · whole-souled · devout · fervent · ardent
- insincere complimentFeigned praise, falsely given