honest

Meaning

Adj

1. Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
2. True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
3. In good faith; without malice.
4. Accurate.
5. Authentic; full.
6. Earned or acquired in a fair manner.
7. Open; frank.
8. (obsolete) Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
9. (obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.

Verb

To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.

Adv

Honestly; really.

Synonyms

sincere

upright

frank

straightforward

⬆️

truthful

true

trustworthy

faithful

candid

honorable

good

👍

straight

fair

loyal

righteous

just

virtuous

dependable

real

respectable

reliable

genuine

open

direct

honourable

guileless

simple

proper

trusty

upstanding

forthright

decent

authentic

innocent

😇

worthy

credible

veracious

pure

clean

believable

staunch

actually

correct

accurate

really

kind

conscientious

kosher

right

above-board

responsible

reality

steady

incorruptible

principled

truly

aboveboard

solid

bona fide

unfailing

secure

unsophisticated

sensible

serious

ethical

convincing

trustable

naive

square

reasonable

courageous

scrupulous

dark

blunt

stallwart

clean-handed

indeed

earnest

integrity

brave

valiant

valorous

moral

be fair

honest-minded

fair-minded

of good character

outspoken

perfect

plain

be truthful

gallant

straight-forward

hard-working person

honest person

keep one’s word

open-hearted

face with no make-up

unpainted face

rustic simplicity

single-eyed

single-hearted

be upright

fair-dealing

be respectable

of high integrity

upright person

white-handed

undeceitful

fair-and-square

true-to-life

straghtforward

unsimulated

simple-minded

above board

artless

as a matter of fact

bold

brief

calm

careful

cautious

certain

chaste

clear

complete

conclude

cordial

cordially

cultivate

daring

devoted

devout

diligent

dispassionate

downright

earthy

easy

equitable

esteem

exact

formal

free

🆓

gentle

good natured

grind

harmless

heart-to-heart

heart-whole

hearty

homeliness

honest-to-god

honest-to-goodness

honesty

honored

humble

impartial

industrious

in earnest

ingenuous

irreproachable

leal

legal

legitimate

natural

nice

orthodox

patriotic

pious

polite

probity

pucka

quick

reputable

rightful

safe

saintly

seriously

sincerely

skilled

sober

sound

🔉

sportsmanlike

stainless

steadfast

strong

sure

swear

terminate

transparent

true to life

trusted

unaffected

unbiased

uncorrupt

uncorrupted

unflinching

ungrudging

unimpeachable

unspoiled

up front

veracity

well-behaved

well-disposed

wholehearted

echt

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒnɪst/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: honest

Cognate with Latin: honestāre

Cognate with French: honester

Inherited from Old English: sōþfæst

In summary

From Middle English honest, honeste (“honourable, appropriate, excellent”), from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honestāre (“to clothe or adorn with honour”), and compare French honester. Displaced native Old English sōþfæst (literally “truth-firm”).