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sincerity Definition

sin·cer·ity (sin serə tē)

noun

the quality or state of being sincere; honesty, genuineness, good faith, etc.

Etymology: MFr sincérité < L sinceritas

sincerity Synonyms

sincerity

n.

honor, earnestness, innocence, trustworthiness, guilelessness, veracity, justice, impartiality, openness, frankness, candor, truthfulness, genuineness; see also honesty 1, reliability.

Antonyms cunning*, guile, deceit.

sincerity Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • heart: I long to live in restful sincerity of heart.
  • purpose: We care only for sincerity of peaceful purpose attested by deeds.
  • people: The sincerity of people in power always has me bemused.
  • government: He felt that the sincerity of the Government must be called into question.
  • man: She put forward a plan to test the sincerity of man.

Converse of subject

  • impress: However, we were impressed by the sincerity of accounts.

Converse of object

  • doubt: Never did it occur to the student to doubt the sincerity of the advisor.
  • lack: When Pilate asked Jesus this question, it was a sarcastic question because it lacked sincerity.
  • question: We do not question the sincerity of our political opponents.
  • show: Then after 6 years, if the student showed sincerity and commitment he would be accepted.
  • test: She put forward a plan to test the sincerity of man.
  • see: When the people saw the sincerity of the program, the groups grew.

Adjective modifier

  • utmost: Listen, " he looked into Howie's eyes with the utmost sincerity.
  • godly: But every one must follow the dictates of his own conscience, in simplicity and godly sincerity.
  • astonishing: There was no mistaking his astonishing sincerity, his painfully earnest endeavor to impart to her some rather unusual id.. .
  • utter: We represent the King of kings and Lord of lords and must declare His message with utter sincerity and appropriate authority.
  • apparent: But the funny remark made with apparent sincerity was not the only weapon in her humorous armory.
  • absolute: I can state with absolute sincerity that the scheme has worked extremely well for me.

Modifies a noun

  • cannot: People really connect with others who are sincere, and sincerity cannot be faked.
  • condition: The physical presence of the witness is essential for an adequate assessment of the sincerity conditions of her oral statements.
sincerity Quotes

A littlesincerity isa dangerousthing, and agreat deal of it is absolutely fatal.

—Wilde, Oscar Fingal O'FlahertieWills

The French are polite, but it is often mere ceremonious politeness. A Russian imbues his polite things with a heartiness that compels belief in their sincerity.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

Crystal sincerity hath found no shelter but in a fool's cap.

—Hopkins, SirAnthony

Sincerity is all that counts is a widespread modern heresy. Think again. Bolsheviks are sincere. Fascists are sincere.Lunaticsaresincere.Peoplewho believethatthe earth is flat are sincere. They can't all be right. Better Sir Martin Mar-All make certain first that you have something to be sincere about, and with.

—Bradwell

A test of a first-rate work, and a test of your sincerity in calling it a first-rate work, is that you finish it.

—Bennett, (Enoch) Arnold

Freeing hostages is like putting up a stage setöwhich you do with the captors, agreeing on each piece as you slowly put it together. Then you leave an exit through which both the captor and the captive can walk with sincerityand dignity.

—Waite,Terry (Terence Hardy)

Browse dictionary entries near sincerity

  1. sincerely
  2. sincere
  3. since
  4. Sinbad the Sailor
  5. Sinatra
  6. sinapism
  7. Sinanthropus
  8. Sinaloa
  9. Sinaitic
  10. Sinai Peninsula
  1. sinciput
  2. Sinclair
  3. Sinclair, Upton
  4. Sind
  5. Sindbad
  6. Sindhi
  7. sine
  8. sine curve
  9. sine die
  10. sine prole