Disingenuous: meaning, definitions and examples
🤥
disingenuous
[ dɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs ]
in conversation
Not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
Synonyms
deceitful, hypocritical, insincere
Examples of usage
- He was being disingenuous when he pretended not to know about the surprise party.
- She was accused of being disingenuous in her answers during the interview.
in behavior
Not truly honest or sincere; giving the false appearance of being straightforward.
Synonyms
crafty, duplicious, underhanded
Examples of usage
- His disingenuous smile made me doubt his true intentions.
- The politician's disingenuous promises were soon exposed.
Translations
Translations of the word "disingenuous" in other languages:
🇵🇹 fingido
🇮🇳 कपटपूर्ण
🇩🇪 unaufrichtig
🇮🇩 tidak jujur
🇺🇦 нещирий
🇵🇱 nieszczery
🇯🇵 不誠実な
🇫🇷 fourbe
🇪🇸 falso
🇹🇷 samimiyetsiz
🇰🇷 불성실한
🇸🇦 غير صادق
🇨🇿 neupřímný
🇸🇰 neúprimný
🇨🇳 虚伪的
🇸🇮 neiskren
🇮🇸 óheiðarlegur
🇰🇿 әділетсіз
🇬🇪 მატყუარა
🇦🇿 səmimiyyətsiz
🇲🇽 falso
Word origin
The word 'disingenuous' has its roots in Latin, with 'dis-' meaning 'not' and 'ingenous' meaning 'ingenuous' or 'honest'. It came into English usage in the 17th century. Originally, it was used to describe someone who was not noble or freeborn, but over time it evolved to mean someone who is not straightforward or candid. The word has retained its negative connotation throughout its history.
See also: ingenuous, ingenuousness.