disingenuous

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'disingenuous' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective which means not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does. For example, you can say "The politician's response seemed disingenuous, leading many to doubt his credibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Also appearing on the program was Riyad Mansour, Palestine's permanent observer to the United Nations, who suggested Netanyahu's comments were disingenuous.

The Guardian

High rents across much of southern England reflect the over-heated property market, but to pretend that poor people will be able to take on a new affordable rent home in these areas without ending up trapped in benefit-dependence is disingenuous.

The Guardian

So her protestations of ordinariness might all seem somewhat disingenuous – though it's refreshing to hear a pop megastar acknowledge concepts such as luck and chance, rather than grimly trotting out American dream cliches and Protestant work ethic myths – were it not for her own career decisions bearing it out.

The Guardian - Music

To imply that Susan Sarandon, who has dedicated much of her life to human-rights activism, objects to the feminist label because she is "right-wing" is disingenuous.

The Guardian - Opinion

Better late than never, José Mourinho has finally accepted it was disingenuous to allege there was a campaign among the Premier League's higher authorities to nobble Chelsea's title challenge through the kind of refereeing mistakes that invariably happen to every club over the course of the season.

The Guardian - Sport

Disingenuous!" He was then president of the party during the Ashdown years, and his unstinting efforts on the rubber chicken circuit gave a peculiarly Kennedy-esque spirit to the party that was especially his – gentle, civilised, humorous; nobody's poodles, but not Rottweilers either, as he put it.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is slightly disingenuous as Piketty did actually work as an adviser to Ségolène Royal in 2007, when she was the socialist candidate in the presidential elections.

The Guardian - Books

Without Noel it's Rain – Oasis's name before Noel came along and took over songwriting duties – and Liam et al calling themselves Oasis would be disingenuous.

The Guardian - Music

He said senior MGN journalists gave "deliberately crafted and disingenuous statements" to the Leveson inquiry into press ethics, and accused MGN of withholding key evidence that meant that only the "very tip of the proverbial iceberg" could be revealed.

The Guardian

"It's disingenuous to say it's being done for conservation," he said.

The Guardian

The Republican Party's disingenuous exploitation of identity politics explains why for the next few months you will see a lot of Dr Ben Carson and Carly Fiorinaandnd Marco Rubio), who yesterday announced his intention to fail to become President of the United States.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disingenuous" when you want to express that someone is not being honest or sincere, often while pretending to be more innocent or naive than they really are.

Common error

Avoid assuming someone is "disingenuous" simply because they appear naive. "Disingenuous" implies a deliberate attempt to mislead, not just a lack of awareness.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "disingenuous" primarily functions to describe a person or their actions as lacking sincerity and candidness. Ludwig's examples show it modifying nouns to indicate a deceptive quality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "disingenuous" is an adjective that describes a lack of sincerity, often masked by an appearance of innocence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used. With 58 real-world examples, its usage is considered very common, particularly in "news & media" and "formal & business" contexts. When using "disingenuous", ensure you're accurately portraying a deliberate attempt to mislead, rather than simply misinterpreting naivete. Consider alternatives like "insincere" or "deceptive" for slightly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insincere

Implies a lack of genuineness in feelings or expressions.

duplicitous

Suggests deceitfulness and double-dealing.

untruthful

Directly states a lack of truthfulness.

deceptive

Indicates an intent to mislead.

hypocritical

Highlights a contradiction between stated beliefs and actual behavior.

deceitful

Indicates a tendency to mislead or hide the truth.

evasive

Suggests avoiding direct answers or commitment.

two-faced

Implies presenting different appearances to different people.

artful

Suggests cleverness or skill in deception.

affected

Implies artificiality or pretense in behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "disingenuous" in a sentence?

You can use "disingenuous" to describe statements or actions that are not sincere. For example, "His claim that he didn't know about the meeting was "disingenuous"."

What's a simpler way to say "disingenuous"?

Alternatives to "disingenuous" include "insincere", "deceptive", or "untruthful". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "disingenuous" the same as "dishonest"?

While related, "disingenuous" implies more subtlety than "dishonest". "Dishonest" is a general term for not being truthful. "Disingenuous" suggests a calculated attempt to create a false impression of innocence or ignorance.

When is it appropriate to call someone "disingenuous"?

Use "disingenuous" when you suspect someone is not being forthright and is trying to appear more innocent or ignorant than they actually are. It's stronger than calling someone "insincere" and accuses someone of bad faith.