sincerity

/sɪnˈsɛrəti/

Say it: sin-SER-uh-tee

noun The quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuineness and honesty in one's feelings, beliefs, or actions.
She spoke with such sincerity that everyone in the room was moved by her story.

📖 Seen in the wild

Her sincerity was evident in the heartfelt apology she offered.
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✏️ sincerity in a sentence

The jury was convinced by the sincerity of his testimony.
In a world of curated online personas, genuine sincerity is a rare and valuable trait.
I appreciate your apology, but I have to question its sincerity.
The manager's sincerity in wanting to help the team was evident in her actions, not just her words.
His letter, for all its clumsy phrasing, was filled with a touching sincerity.
Politicians often struggle to convey sincerity to a skeptical public.
A successful leader must combine competence with unquestionable sincerity.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

genuineness honesty earnestness candor good faith forthrightness authenticity wholeheartedness

genuineness · emphasizes authenticity and being true to one's own nature.

honesty · focuses more on truthfulness and adherence to facts.

earnestness · highlights a serious, intense, and deeply felt conviction.

candor · suggests frankness and directness, often about difficult topics.

Opposites: insincerity, hypocrisy, deceit, pretense, duplicity

🌱 Where it comes from

Sincerity traces back to the Latin word 'sincerus', which meant 'clean, pure, or sound.' This term was originally used to describe things that were whole and unadulterated. Over time, its meaning evolved from physical purity to the moral purity of being genuine and without deceit in one's character and expressions.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

question someone's sincerityspeak with sincerityutmost sinceritya gesture of sinceritydoubt his sincerityconvey sincerity

Sincerity refers to an internal state of being, making it a quality that is felt or perceived rather than proven with facts. While 'honesty' is about the truth of a statement, 'sincerity' is about the truth of the speaker's belief in that statement. Questioning someone's sincerity is a significant claim, as it challenges their character and intentions directly, not just the accuracy of their words.

Word family: sincere, sincerely, insincere, insincerity

💬 Quick answers

What does sincerity mean in simple terms?

Sincerity means you are genuine and truly mean what you say and do. It's the quality of being honest and free from any fakeness or deceit.

What is the difference between sincerity and honesty?

Honesty is about telling the truth and not lying. Sincerity is about genuinely believing or feeling what you express; you can be sincere while being factually wrong, but you can't be honest while knowingly stating a falsehood.

Is sincerity a good quality?

Yes, sincerity is universally considered a positive and admirable quality. It is closely linked to trustworthiness, integrity, and authenticity.

How can you tell if someone is sincere?

Sincerity is often perceived through consistent behavior, where actions match words. Other cues can include direct eye contact, an earnest tone, and a lack of conflicting signals or hidden motives.

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