ungenuine
Lacking true sincerity
Ungenuine means not authentic or sincere—fake, artificial, or insincere.
An ungenuine apology lacks real remorse.
An ungenuine smile doesn't reach the eyes.
The word is less common than its synonyms *insincere* or *fake*, and some find it awkward compared to *disingenuous* or simply *not genuine*.
Fraudulent imitation
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- shamFraudulent imitation
- bogusCounterfeit or fraudulent
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
imitation · forgery · pseudo · mock · ersatz · replica · knockoff · falsified
Feigning beliefs one lacks
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
- hollowEmpty within
superficial · affected · pretentious · sanctimonious · unctuous · glib · slick · smarmy
Inclined to deceive
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- guilefulInclined toward deception
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
underhanded · scheming · crafty · misleading · dissembling · treacherous · deceitful · manipulative
Deliberately manufactured, unnatural
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
- stiltedUnnaturally formal in expression
- artificialMade, not natural
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
unnatural · stiff · awkward · labored · wooden · mechanical · rehearsed · studied
Of uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- fishyArousing doubt, colloquially
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
sketchy · doubtful · unverified · unconfirmed · dodgy · unreliable · untrustworthy · specious
counterfeit
Fraudulent imitation
spurious · imitation · forgery · pseudo · mock · ersatz · replica · knockoff · falsified · forged
hypocritical
Feigning beliefs one lacks
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
hollow · superficial · affected · pretentious · sanctimonious · unctuous · glib · slick · smarmy · performative
dishonest
Inclined to deceive
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- guilefulInclined toward deception
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
devious · underhanded · scheming · crafty · misleading · dissembling · treacherous · deceitful · manipulative · conniving
contrived
Deliberately manufactured, unnatural
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
- stiltedUnnaturally formal in expression
- artificialMade, not natural
affected · unnatural · stiff · awkward · labored · wooden · mechanical · rehearsed · studied · self-conscious
questionable
Of uncertain validity
shady · sketchy · doubtful · unverified · unconfirmed · dodgy · unreliable · untrustworthy · specious · implausible
genuine, genuinely, degenerate, disingenuous, genuineness, ingenuous, ungenerous, ingenuousness, ingenuously