Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

insincere

American  
[in-sin-seer] / ˌɪn sɪnˈsɪər /

adjective

  1. not sincere; not honest in the expression of actual feeling; hypocritical.

    Synonyms:
    two-faced, guileful, disingenuous, deceitful
insincere British  
/ ˌɪnsɪnˈsɪə, ˌɪnsɪnˈsɛrɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. lacking sincerity; hypocritical

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • insincerely adverb
  • insincerity noun

Etymology

Origin of insincere

1625–35; < Latin insincērus tainted, dishonest; in- 3, sincere

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They’re insincere and elitist and out of touch and smug in many respects, from the perspective of a young man.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

If time doesn’t allow for this, Fitzgerald says, it is often considered better to slip away than to appear rushed or insincere in a curt goodbye.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Peppering in phrases like “love bombing” and “disassociative” feels insincere.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

Earlier, the MP who represents Ballymena was criticised for an "insincere" and "weaselly" condemnation of the violence.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025

Riley leaned forward and gave me an insincere smile.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.