SINCERE Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sincere' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sincere are heartfelt , hearty , unfeigned , and wholehearted . While all these words mean "genuine in feeling," sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration. // a sincere apology

Q: When can 'heartfelt' be used instead of 'sincere'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sincere , heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed. // expresses our heartfelt gratitude

Q: When could 'hearty' be used to replace 'sincere'?

Although the words hearty and sincere have much in common, hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling. // received a hearty welcome

Q: Where would 'unfeigned' be a reasonable alternative to 'sincere'?

In some situations, the words unfeigned and sincere are roughly equivalent. However, unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense. // her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Q: When might 'wholehearted' be a better fit than 'sincere'?

The synonyms wholehearted and sincere are sometimes interchangeable, but wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving. // promised our wholehearted support

sincere

adjective

sin-ˈsir

Definition of sincere

as in genuine

genuine in feeling she offered a sincere apology for her angry outburst

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in honest

free from any intent to deceive or impress others done out of a sincere desire to help others

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sincere distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sincere are heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned, and wholehearted. While all these words mean "genuine in feeling," sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

When can heartfelt be used instead of sincere?

While in some cases nearly identical to sincere, heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

When could hearty be used to replace sincere?

Although the words hearty and sincere have much in common, hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

Where would unfeigned be a reasonable alternative to sincere?

In some situations, the words unfeigned and sincere are roughly equivalent. However, unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

When might wholehearted be a better fit than sincere?

The synonyms wholehearted and sincere are sometimes interchangeable, but wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sincere Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026 Your writing and dialogue tend to be sophisticated and sly—unselfconsciously funny—while at the same time sincere and heartfelt. — Lisa Hanawalt, The New York Review of Books, 15 Aug. 2026 For Gorbachev, this reflected both a sincere belief and an economic imperative. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 It will be seen, therefore, that with the sincerest desire in the world to keep down the membership of the party, there were already 10 white men in it. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sincere

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sincere

Adjective

In the artists who are asking that people leave their phones at home or in their pockets at concerts, in the genuine concern over whether younger generations are going to be able to read like older generations.

— Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
No government has publicly disclosed how many were judged genuine.

— Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of genuine

Adjective

Attracting and training game officials, to be honest, isn’t the job of the CIF office but of the various regional officials associations that assign them.

— Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
Set in 2009, the film follows two TV reporters forced into a dirty election campaign for a pro-Russian candidate who struggle to stay honest with their work and the people.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of honest

Adjective

Led by Sreeti Mukerji and shaped by the creative vision of Alia and Shaheen Bhatt, ‘Don’t Be Shy’ is a joyful, heartfelt celebration of friendship, love, and the beautifully messy journey of growing up.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
That moment set viewers up for an emotional and heartfelt follow-up the next week that had the gang traveling to Minnesota to support their friend in one of the worst moments of his life.

— Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of heartfelt

Adjective

LaPorte County Commissioner Joe Haney said in a normal emergency, highway workers from an unaffected area can go to one of the others to help out.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
The results suggest that local firms (that are unaffected by the Megadeal) in a county that lands a Megadeal go on to patent more than neighboring firms, suggesting an increase in innovation activity for these unaffected firms.

— Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of unaffected

Adjective

This was a performer whose sense of self-worth, depending on the day, ranged from unfeigned humility to desperate insecurity to full-on self-loathing.

— Bruce Handy, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
His life story is inspiring, and his love of country is as unfeigned as his faith.

— Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023

Definition of unfeigned

Adjective

Waist circumference is one simple way to estimate visceral fat.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
From a straightforward season-long points race to giving the points leader a cushion on the leaderboard, and now the simple format of awarding the FedEx Cup to the winner of the Tour Championship, the postseason has long needed a boost.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of simple

Adjective

But the truer thread running through his music was as much about urgency as death.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Among those in the record crowd was former Orlando Magic star Grant Hill, whose daughter Lael is a true freshman defender from Windermere for the Gators and a product of Lake Highland Prep.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of true

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“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sincere. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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