If you say that someone is sincere, you approve of them because they really mean the things they say. You can also describe someone's behaviour and beliefs as sincere.
[approval]
He's sincere in his views. [+ in]
He accepted her apologies as sincere.
There was a sincere expression of friendliness on both their faces.
Synonyms: honest, genuine, real, true More Synonyms of sincere
sincerity (sɪnserɪti)uncountable noun
I was impressed with his deep sincerity.
The film is made with sincerity.
Synonyms: honesty, truth, candour, frankness More Synonyms of sincere
sincere in British English
(sɪnˈsɪə)
adjective
1.
not hypocritical or deceitful; open; genuine
a sincere person
sincere regret
2. archaic
pure; unadulterated; unmixed
3. obsolete
sound; whole
Derived forms
sincerely (sinˈcerely)
adverb
sincerity (sɪnˈsɛrɪtɪ) or sincereness (sinˈcereness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin sincērus
sincere in American English
(sɪnˈsɪr)
adjectiveWord forms: sinˈcerer or sinˈcerest
1.
without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy; truthful; straightforward; honest
sincere in his desire to help
2.
being the same in actual character as in outward appearance; genuine; real
sincere grief
3. Archaic
not adulterated
sincere wine
4. Obsolete
uninjured; whole
Derived forms
sincerely (sinˈcerely)
adverb
sincereness (sinˈcereness)
noun
Word origin
MFr sincére < L sincerus, clean, pure, sincere
Examples of 'sincere' in a sentence
sincere
The public understand that cheats are as capable of sounding as sincere as the innocent.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This interest must be genuine and sincere.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We also recognised the swift and sincere apology by the presenter.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She was a rounded person and sincere.
The Sun (2013)
And it promises that wishes made with a sincere heart can really come true.
The Sun (2016)
He was a genuine and sincere person.
The Sun (2010)
His policy was at times devious but also essentially sincere in that avoidance of war was his real aim.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
The speech sounded modest and sincere.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Is it reliable friendship or deep, sincere love?
The Sun (2014)
He is a sincere person, an honest person.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The more he tries to sound sincere, the more insincere he sounds.
The Sun (2012)
He's actually a very sincere person.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, indifference is surely disregard in its deadliest strain.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A flirty text message disguises deep and sincere feelings.
The Sun (2009)
I would like to send my deepest and sincere condolences to his family at this very sad time.
The Sun (2011)
There is an underlying tone in your letter that's a little too dramatic to be really honest or sincere.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
If your failure has impacted others, take this one step further by offering a sincere apology and asking for forgiveness.
Christianity Today (2000)
We wanted sincere, pure music.
The Sun (2011)
But you must sound sincere.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Sensible move really, as imitation isn't always the most sincere form of flattery.
The Sun (2013)
It looked sincere but, also, suspicious.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His voice is soft, soulful, sincere and holds genuine but deceptive emotion in its easy lilt.
The Sun (2009)
You recognise sincere people and genuine opportunities and won't be fooled by flattery, especially when money is involved.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
sincere
British English: sincere /sɪnˈsɪə/ ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is sincere, you approve of them because they really mean the things they say.
He's sincere in his views.
American English: sincere
Arabic: مُخْلِص
Brazilian Portuguese: sincero
Chinese: 诚恳的
Croatian: iskren
Czech: upřímný
Danish: oprigtig
Dutch: oprecht
European Spanish: sincero
Finnish: vilpitön
French: sincère
German: aufrichtig
Greek: ειλικρινής
Italian: sincero
Japanese: 心からの
Korean: 진실한
Norwegian: oppriktig
Polish: szczery
European Portuguese: sincero
Romanian: sincer
Russian: искренний
Latin American Spanish: sincero
Swedish: genuin
Thai: จริงใจ
Turkish: içten
Ukrainian: щирий
Vietnamese: chân thành
Chinese translation of 'sincere'
sincere
(sɪnˈsɪəʳ)
adj
[person]真诚(誠)的 (zhēnchéng de)
[belief, apology]诚(誠)挚的 (chéngzhì de)
(adjective)
Definition
genuine and honest
He accepted her apologies as sincere.
Synonyms
honest
I was honest about what I was doing.
genuine
There was genuine joy in the room.
real
Their expressions of regret did not smack of real sorrow.
true
Everything I had heard about him was true.
serious
You really are serious about this, aren't you?
natural
Jan's sister was as natural and friendly as the rest of the family.
earnest
Rupert was an earnest young man.
frank
They had a frank discussion about the issue.
open
She has an open, trusting nature.
straightforward
I was impressed by his straightforward intelligent manner.
candid
a candid account of her life in the limelight
unaffected
this unaffected, charming couple
no-nonsense
heartfelt
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the relatives.
upfront (informal)
bona fide
We are happy to donate to bona fide charitable causes.
wholehearted
He deserves our wholehearted support in this matter.
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
He was a fair dinkum bloke with no pretensions.
artless
his artless air and charming smile
guileless
She was so guileless that he had no option but to believe her.
unfeigned
I could tell from his unfeigned astonishment that he knew nothing.
Opposites
put on
,
false
,
pretended
,
affected
,
token
,
artificial
,
hollow
,
synthetic
,
dishonest
,
deceptive
,
feigned
,
artful
,
two-faced
,
deceitful
,
insincere
,
phoney or phony (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of artless
Definition
natural or unpretentious
his artless air and charming smile
Synonyms
natural,
simple,
fair,
frank,
plain,
pure,
open,
round,
true,
direct,
genuine,
humble,
straightforward,
sincere,
honest,
candid,
unaffected,
upfront (informal),
unpretentious,
unadorned,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
guileless,
uncontrived,
undesigning
in the sense of bona fide
Definition
undertaken in good faith
We are happy to donate to bona fide charitable causes.
Synonyms
genuine,
real,
true,
legal,
actual,
legitimate,
authentic,
honest,
veritable,
lawful,
on the level (informal),
kosher (informal),
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
the real McCoy
in the sense of candid
Definition
honest and straightforward in speech or behaviour
a candid account of her life in the limelight
Synonyms
honest,
just,
open,
truthful,
fair,
plain,
straightforward,
blunt,
sincere,
outspoken,
downright,
impartial,
forthright,
upfront (informal),
unequivocal,
unbiased,
guileless,
unprejudiced,
free,
round,
frank,
ingenuous
Synonyms of 'sincere'
sincere
Explore 'sincere' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dinkum
Definition
genuine or right
He was a fair dinkum bloke with no pretensions.
Synonyms
genuine,
honest,
natural,
frank,
sincere,
candid,
upfront (informal),
artless,
guileless
in the sense of earnest
Definition
serious and sincere, often excessively so
Rupert was an earnest young man.
Synonyms
serious,
keen,
grave,
intense,
steady,
dedicated,
eager,
enthusiastic,
passionate,
sincere,
thoughtful,
solemn,
ardent,
fervent,
impassioned,
zealous,
staid,
keen as mustard
in the sense of frank
Definition
honest and straightforward in speech or attitude
They had a frank discussion about the issue.
Synonyms
candid,
open,
free,
round,
direct,
plain,
straightforward,
blunt,
outright,
sincere,
outspoken,
honest,
downright,
truthful,
forthright,
upfront (informal),
unrestricted,
plain-spoken,
unreserved,
artless,
ingenuous,
straight from the shoulder (informal)
in the sense of genuine
Definition
sincerely felt
There was genuine joy in the room.
Synonyms
heartfelt,
sincere,
honest,
earnest,
real,
true,
frank,
unaffected,
wholehearted,
unadulterated,
unalloyed,
unfeigned
in the sense of guileless
She was so guileless that he had no option but to believe her.
Synonyms
artless,
open,
genuine,
simple,
natural,
frank,
innocent,
straightforward,
naive,
sincere,
honest,
candid,
truthful,
upfront (informal),
simple-minded,
unsophisticated,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
above-board,
ingenuous,
undesigning
in the sense of heartfelt
Definition
sincerely and strongly felt
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the relatives.
Synonyms
sincere,
deep,
earnest,
warm,
genuine,
profound,
honest,
ardent,
devout,
hearty,
fervent,
cordial,
wholehearted,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
unfeigned
in the sense of natural
Definition
genuine or spontaneous
Jan's sister was as natural and friendly as the rest of the family.
Synonyms
unaffected,
open,
frank,
genuine,
spontaneous,
candid,
unpretentious,
unsophisticated,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
artless,
ingenuous,
real,
simple,
unstudied
in the sense of open
Definition
honest and frank
She has an open, trusting nature.
Synonyms
frank,
direct,
natural,
plain,
innocent,
straightforward,
sincere,
transparent,
honest,
candid,
truthful,
upfront (informal),
plain-spoken,
above board,
unreserved,
artless,
ingenuous,
guileless,
straight from the shoulder (informal),
opN
in the sense of real
Definition
genuine
Their expressions of regret did not smack of real sorrow.
Synonyms
sincere,
true,
earnest,
genuine,
unaffected,
heartfelt,
wholehearted,
untainted,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
unfeigned,
unpretended
in the sense of serious
Definition
in earnest
You really are serious about this, aren't you?
Synonyms
sincere,
determined,
earnest,
resolved,
genuine,
deliberate,
honest,
resolute,
in earnest
Additional synonyms
in the sense of straightforward
Definition
(of a person) honest, frank, and open
I was impressed by his straightforward intelligent manner.
Synonyms
honest,
open,
direct,
genuine,
sincere,
candid,
truthful,
forthright,
upfront (informal),
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
above board,
guileless
in the sense of true
Definition
in accordance with the truth or facts
Everything I had heard about him was true.
Synonyms
correct,
right,
accurate,
exact,
precise,
valid,
legitimate,
factual,
truthful,
veritable,
bona fide,
veracious
in the sense of unaffected
Definition
unpretentious, natural, or sincere
this unaffected, charming couple
Synonyms
natural,
genuine,
unpretentious,
simple,
plain,
straightforward,
naive,
sincere,
honest,
unassuming,
unspoilt,
unsophisticated,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
artless,
ingenuous,
without airs,
unstudied
in the sense of unfeigned
I could tell from his unfeigned astonishment that he knew nothing.
Synonyms
genuine,
sincere,
real,
natural,
pure,
unaffected,
heartfelt,
unforced,
wholehearted,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of wholehearted
Definition
done or given with total sincerity or enthusiasm
He deserves our wholehearted support in this matter.