sincere

[ sin-seer ]

adjective

, sin·cer·er, sin·cer·est.

1. free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest:

   a sincere apology.

   Synonyms: unaffected, guileless, open, honest, candid, frank

   Antonyms: false

2. genuine; real:

   a sincere effort to improve; a sincere friend.

   Antonyms: false

3. pure; unmixed; unadulterated.
4. Obsolete. sound; unimpaired.

sincere

/ sɪnˈsɛrɪtɪ; sɪnˈsɪə /

adjective

1. not hypocritical or deceitful; open; genuine

   sincere regret

   a sincere person

2. archaic.
   pure; unadulterated; unmixed
3. obsolete.
   sound; whole

Derived Forms

• sinˈcerely, adverb
• sincerity, noun

Other Words From

• sin·cerely adverb
• sin·cereness noun
• quasi-sin·cere adjective
• quasi-sin·cerely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sincere¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin sincērus “pure, clean, untainted”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sincere¹

C16: from Latin sincērus

Synonym Study

See earnest ¹.

Example Sentences

Lafleur said that from the first meeting, he saw how sincere Smith was.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes, there are half-baked attempts to claim they want men to control themselves, but that's more a P.R. move than a sincere effort.

From Salon

If you want to seem sincere and receive more responses to your texts, spell out words instead of abbreviating them, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

From Science Daily

In a statement, the Northern health trust said: "We offer our sincere condolences to Mr Trolan's family and apologise unreservedly for the failings in care that have been highlighted."

From BBC

He’s heard that by exposing it to the perfect cheeseball pop song — upbeat, sincere — it will excrete a natural hallucinogenic: a profitable slime.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• candid
• earnest
• for real
• forthright
• genuine
• heartfelt
• outspoken
• real
• serious
• true
• trustworthy