Disingenuous: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone is pretending to be honest or sincere, but actually is not. They might give you half-truths or hide their true intentions.

• Her praise seemed disingenuous, as if she had a hidden agenda.
• His apology felt disingenuous; he was just trying to avoid getting into more trouble.

Used when someone's words or actions are not genuine or heartfelt. They might be acting nice but not really meaning it.

• He gave an insincere apology to his colleague.
• Her smile felt insincere, like she was just being polite.

Used when someone is intentionally trying to deceive or mislead others. It carries a stronger negative connotation compared to 'disingenuous'.

• The salesman was deceitful, hiding defects in the car he was selling.
• She was deceitful about her qualifications during the job interview.

Used when someone criticizes others for behavior they themselves are guilty of. Often related to moral or ethical judgments.

• It's hypocritical of him to complain about wastefulness when he wastes so much himself.
• Her comments on honesty were hypocritical, considering her own history of lying.

Use this word when describing someone who is not honest or sincere, but tries to appear that way. It often implies a subtle, calculated deceit.

• Her disingenuous compliment made me feel uneasy.
• The politician's disingenuous behavior during the debate was evident.

This word is used to describe someone who is clever at achieving goals through indirect or deceitful methods. It can sometimes carry a slightly positive connotation of cleverness or skill.

• The crafty old man managed to trick the younger, less experienced player.
• She came up with a crafty plan to surprise her friend.

This word is used for actions that are secretive and dishonest, often unfair. It has a very strong negative connotation.

• His underhanded tactics during the competition were eventually exposed.
• She felt betrayed by his underhanded approach to winning the deal.