dishonest

USAGE SUMMARY

"dishonest" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone who has acted in a deceitful or unethical way. Example sentence: I can't trust him; he has a history of being dishonest.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The police's recent involvement in the case followed intense pressure for action – including from the head of the Law Society, Desmond Hudson, who said Wonga's "dishonest activity" could amount to blackmail and deception.

The Guardian - Money

Clearly the filmmakers feel that Stevens was being heroic to overcome personal pride and to muffle his true convictions to the occasion, but they want you to know that if you can't stomach such dishonest tactics you too have a representative in the film.

The Guardian - Film

Mote was found guilty of benefit fraud and sentenced to nine months in prison in 2007, with the judge describing him as "a truly dishonest man".

The Guardian

"At the outset, I want to make it clear I have done nothing wrong or dishonest.

The Guardian

In a bid to maximise Labour discomfort, the Conservatives released a dossier highlighting "the dishonest claims" made by Labour ministers that they had been neutral about his release.

The Guardian

She accused Mr Farage of being "dishonest" for "using arguments against the FN of which he himself has been a victim".

The Guardian

He was revealed to have pressed for changes in government policy, ranging from improved equipment for British troops in Iraq to the implementation of a badger cull (whose opponents he criticised as being intellectually dishonest).

The Guardian

"It is unconscionable that some companies, often supported by dishonest officials, are using unethical tax avoidance, transfer pricing and anonymous company ownership to maximize their profits, while millions of Africans go without adequate nutrition, health and education".

The Guardian - Business

The latter was the community's revenge for the former – what it saw as dishonest policing and a biased judiciary.

The Guardian - Opinion

During the last campaign he was the victim of a "ruthless and dishonest" campaign by Rahman to brand him a racist, according to Mawrey.

The Guardian

Cabinet divisions over immigration policy spilled into the open on Thursday when Vince Cable, the business secretary, claimed that the government target of reducing net migration was dishonest and could cause "enormous damage" to the economy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions, use "dishonest" to highlight a lack of integrity and ethical behavior. For example, "dishonest business practices".

Common error

Avoid using "dishonest" for minor exaggerations or white lies. Reserve it for situations involving significant breaches of trust or ethical violations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dishonest" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing someone or something as lacking honesty or integrity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Dishonest" is a common adjective used to describe a lack of honesty or integrity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It frequently appears in contexts related to news, media, formal settings, and business, often to express disapproval of unethical behavior. When using "dishonest", reserve it for significant breaches of trust and consider alternatives like "deceitful" or "fraudulent" for nuanced meanings. Avoid using it for trivial matters. The sources highlight consistent application of "dishonest" across various reputable platforms, reflecting its firm place in English vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deceitful

Highlights the act of misleading or misrepresenting the truth.

fraudulent

Emphasizes the intent to deceive for financial or personal gain.

untruthful

Focuses on the act of not telling the truth.

corrupt

Suggests a state of moral decay and willingness to abuse power for personal gain.

unscrupulous

Indicates a lack of moral principles or conscience.

dishonorable

Implies a violation of ethical standards or codes of conduct.

deceptive

Focuses on creating a false impression or belief.

underhanded

Suggests secretive and unfair methods.

duplicitous

Implies deliberately concealing one's true intentions or feelings.

treacherous

Highlights betrayal and a violation of trust.

FAQs

How to use "dishonest" in a sentence?

You can use "dishonest" to describe someone's actions or character. For example, "The company was accused of "dishonest practices"" or "He is a "dishonest person"".

What can I say instead of "dishonest"?

You can use alternatives like "deceitful", "fraudulent", or "untruthful" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "dishonest" or "dishonestful"?

"Dishonest" is the correct term. "Dishonestful" is not a standard English word.

What's the difference between "dishonest" and "disloyal"?

"Dishonest" refers to a lack of truthfulness and integrity, while "disloyal" refers to a breach of allegiance or faithfulness. Someone can be "disloyal" without being "dishonest", and vice versa.