disingenuous
/,disin'dʤenjuəs/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness: Describes a person, behavior, or statement that is insincere, crafty, or calculated to deceive by pretending to be open and honest.
- Lacking in sincerity or genuineness: Characterized by a pretense of naivete or ignorance, often to achieve a hidden advantage.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- His apology seemed disingenuous, as he continued the same behavior.
- The politician's disingenuous claim of ignorance about the scandal angered the public.
- She gave a disingenuous smile while secretly plotting her next move.
Advanced Usage
- "to be disingenuous about something": to be insincere or deceitful regarding a specific topic.
- The CEO was disingenuous about the company's financial difficulties.
- "disingenuous at best": a phrase used to suggest that a statement or action is, in the most charitable interpretation, not honest.
- His explanation for the missing funds was disingenuous at best.
Variants and Related Words
- Disingenuously (adverb): In a manner that is not honest or sincere.
- He disingenuously claimed he had never received the email.
- Disingenuousness (noun): The quality of being disingenuous.
- The disingenuousness of his argument was apparent to everyone in the room.
Synonyms
- Insincere: Not expressing genuine feelings.
- Deceitful: Guilty of or involving deceit; intended to mislead.
- Duplicitous: Deceitful in speech or conduct.
- Two-faced: Insincere and deceitful.
- Guileful: Crafty; cunningly deceitful.
Antonyms
- Genuine: Truly what something is said to be; authentic.
- Sincere: Free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings.
- Candid: Truthful and straightforward; frank.
- Artless: Without guile or deception.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- With a disingenuous air: Behaving in a way that falsely suggests innocence or simplicity.
- He asked the question with a disingenuous air, already knowing the answer.
- A disingenuous ploy: A cunning or deceptive strategy that pretends to be innocent.
- Offering to help was just a disingenuous ploy to gain access to confidential information.
Adjective
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not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
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an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time- David Cannadine
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a disingenuous excuse
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