insincerity
Saying without meaning
Insincerity is the quality of saying or doing things you don't actually mean or believe.
An insincere person might offer compliments they don't feel, make promises they won't keep, or express concern when they're actually indifferent.
His apology reeked of insincerity.
The word often implies a deliberate gap between outward expression and inner feeling, distinguishing it from simple error or confusion.
Insincere and deceptive
- sanctimonyFeigned moral superiority
- cantSanctimonious insincerity
- lip serviceInsincere expression of agreement
- double standardsJudging others differently than yourself
duplicity · self-righteousness · tartuffery · holier-than-thou · pietism · sanctimoniousness · moralizing · phoniness
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
dissembling · misrepresentation · trickery · manipulation · cunning · chicanery · fraudulence · scheming
Criminal courtroom dishonesty
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- bad faithIntentional deception in dealings
false pretense · forgery · falsification · fabrication · false statement · false representation · false claim · duplicity
Artificial behavior for effect
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
feigning · playacting · performance · show · pose · guise · theatrics · simulation
Stating known falsehoods
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthfulnessDisposition toward false statements
- prevaricationMisleading speech avoiding directness
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
falsification · fibbing · mendacity · perjury · perfidy · treachery · betrayal · deception
Fraudulent person or thing
- shamFraudulent imitation
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- ersatzArtificial and inferior substitute
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
bogus · pseudo · imitation · fraudulent · unauthentic · factitious · hollow · superficial
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- cajoleryFlattery meant to persuade
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
- obsequiousnessServile eagerness to please
smooth talk · sweet talk · charm offensive · bootlicking · toadying · ingratiation · buttering up · gushing
two-faced
Insincere and deceptive
- sanctimonyFeigned moral superiority
- cantSanctimonious insincerity
- lip serviceInsincere expression of agreement
double standards · duplicity · self-righteousness · tartuffery · holier-than-thou · pietism · sanctimoniousness · moralizing · phoniness · tokenism
duplicity
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
artifice · dissembling · misrepresentation · trickery · manipulation · cunning · chicanery · fraudulence · scheming · double-dealing
perjury
Criminal courtroom dishonesty
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
bad faith · false pretense · forgery · falsification · fabrication · false statement · false representation · false claim · duplicity · mens rea
affectation
Artificial behavior for effect
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
facade · feigning · playacting · performance · show · pose · guise · theatrics · simulation · disguise
lying
Stating known falsehoods
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- untruthfulnessDisposition toward false statements
- prevaricationMisleading speech avoiding directness
fabrication · falsification · fibbing · mendacity · perjury · perfidy · treachery · betrayal · deception · dissimulation
phony
Fraudulent person or thing
- shamFraudulent imitation
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- ersatzArtificial and inferior substitute
spurious · bogus · pseudo · imitation · fraudulent · unauthentic · factitious · hollow · superficial · plastic
sycophancy
Obsequious behavior toward authority
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- cajoleryFlattery meant to persuade
- blandishmentFlattering words to persuade
obsequiousness · smooth talk · sweet talk · charm offensive · bootlicking · toadying · ingratiation · buttering up · gushing · unctuousness
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- honestyhonesty, truthfulness, candor, dishonesty, frankness
- insincerityphoniness, fakeness, falseness, pretense, dissembling
- Social Pretensepretense, facade, affectation, phoniness, feigned interest
insinceritysincerity
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
genuineness · authenticity · earnestness · wholeheartedness · realness
insincerityhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · truthfulness · forthrightness · frankness · candor
insincerityartlessness
Sincere, unfeigned manner
guilelessness · naturalness · unaffectedness · ingenuousness · openheartedness