truthful

[ trooth-fuhl ]

adjective

1. telling the truth, especially habitually:

   a truthful person.

   Synonyms: frank, candid, trustworthy, honest

2. conforming to truth:

   a truthful statement.

3. corresponding with reality:

   a truthful portrait.

truthful

/ ˈtruːθfʊl /

adjective

1. telling or expressing the truth; honest or candid
2. realistic

   a truthful portrayal of the king

Derived Forms

• ˈtruthfully, adverb
• ˈtruthfulness, noun

Other Words From

• truthful·ly adverb
• truthful·ness noun
• over·truthful adjective
• over·truthful·ly adverb
• over·truthful·ness noun
• quasi-truthful adjective
• quasi-truthful·ly adverb
• semi·truthful adjective
• semi·truthful·ly adverb
• semi·truthful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of truthful¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; truth + -ful

Example Sentences

The Washington Post’s Geoffrey Fowler found some apps were not being truthful about their privacy policies in their labels, and that could create a false sense of security for consumers.

From Vox

What’s needed is a serious, truthful Rush Limbaugh to come on the scene in conservative talk.

From Time

We must engage community leaders, churches, activists, doctors, and people in every neighborhood in America as well as celebrities of every stripe to get truthful vaccine messages out to the public.

From Nautilus

The university declined to make Bunch available but acknowledged Stockstill had questioned whether the player was being truthful.

From Washington Post

Clinesmith said he thought at the time he was inserting truthful information.

From Washington Post

No one could agree on which side they felt was more truthful or believable, and the answers kept changing.

From The Daily Beast

It depends who is going to be involved and how truthful it is.

From The Daily Beast

So, I would take them rather than wear them because I wanted to be truthful to my own body.

From The Daily Beast

Who shapes what the public comes to see as truth, and how truthful is that truth?

From The Daily Beast

For our storytelling to be truthful we need to address this fact, not turn away from it.

From The Daily Beast

The Swiss soon found out that in Hephzibah he was dealing with a truthful girl; for the tale, though oft repeated, never varied.

From Project Gutenberg

Deception, so hateful to her truthful soul, she was compelled to carry on even against her trusting husband.

From Project Gutenberg

Letters of Recommendation should be truthful, polite, and carefully considered.

From Project Gutenberg

She took the note from her pocket and pondered each word; the cruel, truthful words!

From Project Gutenberg

“I have,” said Jim, in a tone and with a look so earnest and truthful that Nora required no further assurance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• believable
• candid
• correct
• factual
• forthright
• precise
• realistic
• reliable
• sincere
• straightforward
• true
• trustworthy