Sincere vs. Honest — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
Sincere is expressing genuine feelings, while honest is telling the truth. Sincerity is about emotion, honesty about facts.
Difference Between Sincere and Honest
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sincere is derived from the Latin word ‘sincerus’ meaning clean, pure, or untainted. It implies a genuineness of expression, emotion, or intention without pretense or deceit. Honest, on the other hand, comes from the Old English ‘honeste’ meaning honor or decency, particularly in one’s actions and words. Honesty is the quality of being truthful and free from deceit in one’s statements and actions.
When someone is sincere, they communicate from the heart, showing true feelings and intentions. For example, a sincere apology is one where the person truly feels remorse. An honest person focuses on conveying factual truth. If they recount an event, they will do so accurately, without embellishment or omission.
Sincerity can involve emotional transparency. It's about being genuine in what one feels and says. Honesty, conversely, relates to the accuracy of facts and truthfulness in one’s statements. One can be honest without being sincere if they truthfully express something without personal conviction or feeling.
Sincerity does not always involve facts but is about the truthfulness of one's personal state. You can be sincere in your enthusiasm about a friend's new venture. Honesty can sometimes be brutal if the truth is harsh; for instance, being honest about someone's poor performance.
Both sincerity and honesty are valued in communication and relationships. Sincerity is often associated with depth of feeling, and honesty with integrity of facts. A person might sincerely tell someone they look nice (because they genuinely wish to be kind) but not honestly (if they don't actually believe it).
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Comparison Chart
Root Meaning
Pure, without deceit in feeling.
Truthful, without deceit in fact.
Focus
Emotion and intention.
Accuracy and truthfulness.
Expression
Can be non-verbal.
Usually verbal or factual.
Contextual Importance
Personal relationships, apologies.
Legal matters, factual discourse.
Social Perception
Associated with emotional warmth.
Associated with moral integrity.
Compare with Definitions
Sincere
Free from pretense.
His sincere smile was reassuring.
Honest
The witness gave an honest account of the events.
Sincere
Without irony or deceit.
I’m sincere when I say I admire your work.
Honest
Her honest criticism was hard to accept.
Sincere
Heartfelt genuineness.
She gave a sincere thank you to her supporters.
Honest
An honest mistake does not define one's character.
Sincere
Earnest in feeling.
His sincere concer for my health was touching.
Honest
Marked by or displaying integrity; upright
An honest lawyer.
Sincere
Pure in intention.
He was sincere in his offer to help.
Honest
Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine
Honest weight.
Sincere
Not feigned or affected; genuine
Sincere indignation.
Honest
Equitable; fair
Honest wages for an honest day's work.
Sincere
Being without hypocrisy or pretense; true
A sincere friend.
Honest
Characterized by truth; not false
Honest reporting.
Sincere
(Archaic) Pure; unadulterated.
Honest
Sincere; frank
An honest critique.
Sincere
Genuine; meaning what one says or does; heartfelt.
I believe he is sincere in his offer to help.
Honest
Of good repute; respectable.
Sincere
Meant truly or earnestly.
She gave it a sincere if misguided effort.
Honest
Without affectation; plain
Honest folk.
Sincere
(archaic) clean; pure
Honest
Virtuous; chaste.
Sincere
Pure; unmixed; unadulterated.
There is no sincere acid in any animal juice.
A joy which never was sincere till now.
Honest
(of a person or institution) Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
We’re the most honest people you will ever come across.
Sincere
Whole; perfect; unhurt; uninjured.
The inviolable body stood sincere.
Honest
(of a statement) True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
An honest account of events
Honest reporting
Sincere
Being in reality what it appears to be; having a character which corresponds with the appearance; not falsely assumed; genuine; true; real; as, a sincere desire for knowledge; a sincere contempt for meanness.
A sincere intention of pleasing God in all our actions.
Honest
In good faith; without malice.
An honest mistake
Sincere
Honest; free from hypocrisy or dissimulation; as, a sincere friend; a sincere person.
The more sincere you are, the better it will fare with you at the great day of account.
Honest
(of a measurement device) Accurate.
An honest scale
Sincere
Open and genuine; not deceitful;
He was a good man, decent and sincere
Felt sincere regret that they were leaving
Sincere friendship
Honest
Authentic; full.
An honest day’s work
Sincere
Characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions;
Both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate
An entirely sincere and cruel tyrant
A film with a solemn social message
Honest
Earned or acquired in a fair manner.
An honest dollar
Honest
Open; frank.
An honest countenance
Honest
(obsolete) Decent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
Honest
(obsolete) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
Honest
(obsolete) To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.
Honest
(colloquial) Honestly; really.
It wasn’t my fault, honest.
Honest
Decent; honorable; suitable; becoming.
Belong what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching!
Honest
Characterized by integrity or fairness and straightforwardness in conduct, thought, speech, etc.; upright; just; equitable; trustworthy; truthful; sincere; free from fraud, guile, or duplicity; not false; - said of persons and acts, and of things to which a moral quality is imputed; as, an honest judge or merchant; an honest statement; an honest bargain; an honest business; an honest book; an honest confession.
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
An honest physician leaves his patient when he can contribute no farther to his health.
Look ye out among you seven men of honest report.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Honest
Open; frank; as, an honest countenance.
Honest
Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.
Honest
To adorn; to grace; to honor; to make becoming, appropriate, or honorable.
Honest
Not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent;
Honest lawyers
Honest reporting
An honest wage
Honest weight
Honest
Without dissimulation; frank;
My honest opinion
Honest
Worthy of being depended on;
A dependable worker
An honest working stiff
A reliable source of information
He was true to his word
I would be true for there are those who trust me
Honest
Free from guile;
His answer was simple and honest
Honest
Without pretensions;
Worked at an honest trade
Good honest food
Honest
Habitually speaking the truth;
An honest man
A veracious witness
Honest
Marked by truth;
Gave honest answers
Honest
She was honest about her qualifications.
Honest
He is known to be an honest businessman.
Common Curiosities
Can someone be honest but not sincere?
Yes, a person can truthfully speak facts without being emotionally invested or genuine in their expression.
How can sincerity be shown?
Sincerity is shown through genuine expressions, tone of voice, and congruence between words and actions.
Why is sincerity important?
Sincerity builds trust and authenticity in personal relationships and social interactions.
What does it mean to be sincere?
Being sincere means expressing genuine emotions or intentions without falsehood or deceit.
Is sincere the same as honest?
No, sincere relates to the genuineness of feelings or intentions, while honest pertains to truthfulness in facts.
Can honesty be harmful?
Honesty without tact can sometimes be hurtful, which is why it’s important to balance truthfulness with consideration for others’ feelings.
Can businesses operate with sincerity?
Yes, businesses can operate with sincerity by being genuine in their customer interactions and upholding their promises.
How do you tell if someone is being sincere?
Sincerity is often judged by consistency in words and actions, the warmth of expression, and the presence of genuine emotion.
What does it mean to be honest?
Being honest means being truthful, straightforward, and free from deceit in one's statements and actions.
Is it always good to be honest?
Generally, yes, but there are ethical debates about whether honesty should be compromised to protect someone's feelings or in matters of safety.
Does being sincere mean you always have to share your feelings?
No, you can be sincere without sharing all your feelings, especially if sharing is not appropriate or may cause unnecessary harm.
How can one practice honesty?
One can practice honesty by always speaking the truth, being transparent in dealings, and maintaining integrity.
Do sincerity and honesty play a role in leadership?
Absolutely, a leader who is both sincere and honest will garner respect and inspire trust among their followers.
Can honesty affect relationships?
Yes, honesty can either strengthen trust in relationships or cause strain if not delivered with empathy.
Is sincerity a skill that can be learned?
While some people may naturally be more sincere, others can improve by practicing authenticity and self-awareness.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
