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disingenuous Definition

dis·in·genu·ous (dis′in jen′yo̵̅o̅ əs)

adjective

  1. not straightforward; not candid or frank; insincere
  2. slyly deceptive or misleading, typically by means of a pretense of ignorance or unawareness

Related Forms:

disingenuous Synonyms

disingenuous

modif.

insincere, uncandid, deceitful, calculating; see dishonest 1, hypocritical, sly 1.

disingenuous Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • extreme: For Lilian Yates to call the parking attendants ' behavior ' disgusting ' is disingenuous in the extreme.

Infinitive complement

  • suggest: It is naive or disingenuous to suggest that he will ever be tried in our country.
  • say: This is, of course, disingenuous to say the least.
  • claim: Furthermore, it would be disingenuous to claim this sort of improvement in every case even on the scanners of the day.
  • argue: Moreover, it is completely disingenuous to argue that GM technology is being promoted to support developing countries.
  • pretend: It would be disingenuous to pretend that these opposing views are in any way reconcilable.
  • imply: It would be disingenuous to imply that such funds would solve the problem in education.

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: Somewhat disingenuous of him then to encourage UK farmers to plant a crop for which he knows there is no domestic market.
  • slightly: However, the Government were slightly disingenuous in saying, " All of this is happening anyway under these various other Acts.
  • rather: In light of this, Sir Ian's explanation for the project's two-year overrun sounds rather disingenuous.
  • little: Don't you think you are being just a little disingenuous?
  • deliberately: I think here Kevin is being deliberately disingenuous; however, his other point is valid.
  • extremely: You have to be pretty thick not to see through all this - or extremely disingenuous.

Used with adjective complement

  • appear: Cllr Eades appears somewhat disingenuous in his argument that Creekmoor is a perfect location - Mannings Heath would be just as well placed.
  • sound: This, I know, sounds disingenuous, but it's true, this was a book not written to be published.

Modifies a noun

  • statement: Reid must not be allowed to get away with his disingenuous statements about ' deterrence ' , diverting attention from the real threats.
  • argument: Now Sean is a literate man, and will have read the motion he was opposing, so this is clearly a disingenuous argument.
  • way: Surely we should stick to the issues and avoid aping Labor and its disingenuous ways.
  • answer: This same question, repeatedly asked between November, 1940 and April 1941, was invariably met with disingenuous answers.