Sincere Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms sincere American [sin-seer] / sɪnˈsɪər /

adjective

sincerer, sincerest

1. free of deceit, hypocrisy, or falseness; earnest.

   a sincere apology.

   Synonyms: unaffected, guileless, open, honest, candid, frank Antonyms: false

2. genuine; real.

   a sincere effort to improve; a sincere friend.

   Antonyms: false

3. pure; unmixed; unadulterated.

4. Obsolete. sound; unimpaired.

sincere British / sɪnˈsɛrɪtɪ, sɪnˈsɪə /

adjective

1. not hypocritical or deceitful; open; genuine

   a sincere person

   sincere regret

2. archaic pure; unadulterated; unmixed

3. obsolete sound; whole

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See earnest 1.

Other Word Forms

• quasi-sincere adjective
• quasi-sincerely adverb
• sincerely adverb
• sincereness noun
• sincerity noun

Etymology

Origin of sincere

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin sincērus “pure, clean, untainted”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ohtani threw his cap and glove in a rare show of emotion, setting off a wild and sincere celebration as my ignorant self finally realized, “Hey, this is a thing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Traditionally, Irish culture values goodbyes that are warm, friendly and sincere.

From The Wall Street Journal

These female strangers share a moment of such sincere human connection that I would have happily watched a dozen more scenes of the two women leaning on each other while they endure their hard-luck lives.

From Los Angeles Times

The rugged individualists’ arguments run the gamut from a sincere nostalgia — many chairs designed and installed in the 20th century didn’t even have safety bars, they note — to the intentionally absurd.

From Los Angeles Times

I have no idea if he’s being sincere or sarcastic, but I just say, “Thanks.”

From Literature

Related Words

• candid
• earnest
• for real
• forthright
• genuine
• heartfelt
• outspoken
• real
• serious
• true
• trustworthy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.