honesty Hear it!

honesty Definition

hon·esty (än′is tē)

noun

  1. the state or quality of being honest; specif.,
    1. Obsolete honor
    2. a refraining from lying, cheating, or stealing; a being truthful, trustworthy, or upright
    3. sincerity; fairness; straightforwardness
    4. Archaic chastity
  2. any of a genus (Lunaria) of plants of the crucifer family, with purple and white flowers and large, flat, oval pods; esp., a plant (L. annua) whose pods are used in winter bouquets

Etymology: ME honeste < OFr honesté < L honestas < honestus

honesty Synonyms

honesty

n.

  1. Integrity

    probity, honor, uprightness, veridicality, fidelity, scrupulousness, self-respect, straight-forwardness, forthrightness, directness, trustworthiness, confidence, soundness, veracity, rectitude, right, principle, truthfulness, candor, frankness, openness, incorruptibility, morality, goodness, responsibility, loyalty, faithfulness, good faith, constancy, courage, quality of being honest, moral strength, virtue, reliability, character, veraciousness, conscience, worth, impeccability, conscientiousness, trustiness, faith, freedom from fraud, justice, respectability, honorableness; see also sincerity.

    Antonyms dishonesty*, deception, deceit.

  2. Fair dealing

    probity, justice, rectitude; see fairness.

honesty Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • appreciate: I also appreciate the honesty and openness shown during the interviews.
  • expect: I have a right to expect honesty from others.
  • believe: Some would probably say too honest, but we believed honesty was the best policy.
  • want: Harrow Cllr defects to the Greens 27th Apr 2006 " If you want honesty in politics, you have to vote for it.
  • encourage: Be sensitive in the way you respond, encourage honesty, integrity, compassion for others.
  • demonstrate: There are other structural differences as well, and up til now, the new glass has demonstrated increased honesty over previous products.

Noun used with modifier

  • value: Message I am as they say ' an open book. ' I value honesty, and love to laugh.

Adjective modifier

  • unflinching: Despite consistent claims to the contrary, never before or since has Hollywood held the mirror up to itself with such unflinching honesty.
  • brutal: Her vocals roar out the literate, intelligent lyrics with brutal honesty.
  • refreshing: Where anxious members see falling membership figures, I see a refreshing honesty about how many paid-up members the party actually has.
  • uncompromising: Their lyrics bloom from a place of uncompromising honesty and naked emotion.
  • ruthless: Compassion - We mean ruthless honesty and tough, direct, caring communication.
  • stark: This young boy's experiences in the low country of South Carolina are told with a sense of humor and stark honesty.

Modifies a noun

  • box: Open all year, dawn to dusk, honesty box.
  • bar: Our chalet chef and host, who live in, will arrange an honesty bar of snacks, soft drinks, beers and mixers.
  • cannot: In honesty I cannot think of anything that went ' wrong ' ( including the weather ).

Preposition: in

  • sentencing: And instead, we will introduce honesty in sentencing.
  • politics: If you value honesty in politics, vote for what you value.
  • government: Freedom of information is a symbol of honesty in government.
honesty Quotes

Art, whose honesty must work through artifice, cannot avoid cheating truth.

—Riding, Laura ne¤  e Reichenthal

Some people swim lakes, others climb flagpoles, some join monasteries, but we, my friends, who have considered suicide take our daily walk with death and are not lonely. In the end it brings more honesty and care than all the democratic parliaments of tricks.

—Webb, Phyllis

honesty is a good thing but it is not profitable to its possessor unless it is kept under control.

—Marquis, Don(ald Robert Perry)

Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy.Bothyourreligionand policy must be basedon it.

—Ruskin,John

Honesty was a cheat invented first To bind the hands of bold deserving rogues, That fools and cowards might sit safe in power, And lord it uncontroll'd above their betters.

—Otway,Thomas

John Bull has gone to India And all must pay him heed For histories are there to prove That none of another breed Has had a like inheritance, Or sucked such milk as he, And there's no luck about a house If it lacks honesty. The ghost of Roger Casement Is beating on the door.

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

The most important thing in acting is honesty.Once you've learned to fake that, you're in.

—Goldwyn, Sam(uel) originally  Schmuel Gelbfisz

It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honestyand how few by deceit.

—Coward, Sir Noe«  l Peirce

Perhaps there is no position more perilous to a man's honesty thanthat†of knowing himselftobe quiteloved by a girl whom he almost loves himself.

—Trollope, Anthony

I'm thinking†how that damn'd starving quality Call'd honesty, got footing in the world.

—Otway,Thomas

Wisdom without honesty is mere craft and cozenage. And therefore the reputation for honesty must first be gotten; which cannot be but by living well. A good life is a main argument.

—Jonson, Ben

I suppose all writers are crazy, but if they are any good, I believe they have a terrible honesty.

—Chandler, Raymond

Browse dictionary entries near honesty

  1. ‹ honestly
  2. ‹ honest-to-goodness
  3. ‹ honest
  4. ‹ Honegger
  5. ‹ hone
  6. ‹ Honduras
  7. ‹ hondle
  8. ‹ Hond
  9. ‹ honcho
  10. ‹ honan
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