sincere

adjective

sin·​cere sin-ˈsir How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sən-
sincerer; sincerest
1
a
: free of dissimulation : honest
a sincere interest
b
: free from adulteration : pure
a sincere doctrine
sincere wine
2
: marked by genuineness : true
sincereness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sincere

sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, hearty, unfeigned mean genuine in feeling.

sincere stresses absence of hypocrisy, feigning, or any falsifying embellishment or exaggeration.

a sincere apology

wholehearted suggests sincerity and earnest devotion without reservation or misgiving.

promised our wholehearted support

heartfelt suggests depth of genuine feeling outwardly expressed.

expresses our heartfelt gratitude

hearty suggests honesty, warmth, and exuberance in displaying feeling.

received a hearty welcome

unfeigned stresses spontaneity and absence of pretense.

her unfeigned delight at receiving the award

Examples of sincere in a Sentence

He sounded sincere in his promises. She seemed sincere in her commitment to finish school. She has a sincere interest in painting. He showed a sincere concern for her health. He made a sincere attempt to quit smoking. Please accept our sincere thanks.
Recent Examples on the Web But after giving running a sincere go for the last five months—and making a few small (but key) tweaks—I’m able to log five, even 10, miles nonstop. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 22 Mar. 2024 The series is sincere but not self-important, slightly silly but not embarrassed about it. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Kiarostami shoots Sabzian with more than compassion: the director looks at the faux director with admiration that, while laced with irony, remains sincere. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 Smart and sincere but never sanctimonious, the awareness-raising drama doubles as a public service message of sorts. Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 In person, Lenker, 32, is disarmingly sincere and attentive. Jeremy Gordon, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Embracing authenticity—whether through sincere kindness, humor or engaging discussions—humanizes our roles and strengthens our ability to work harmoniously. Jonathan Kaufman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Although this album captures a lot of painful moments, it also is woven together with a through line of deep, sincere love. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Baker chose not to shrug off this accusation, insisting that Monica's grief over Fabio's murder was intense and sincere. Greg Fisher, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sincere.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin sincerus whole, pure, genuine, probably from sem- one + -cerus (akin to Latin crescere to grow) — more at same, crescent

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sincere was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near sincere

Cite this Entry

“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sincere. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sincere

adjective
sin·​cere sin-ˈsi(ə)r How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sincerer; sincerest
1
: trustworthy, straightforward
a sincere friend
2
: genuine sense 1, real
a sincere interest in painting
sincerely adverb
sincerity
-ˈser-ət-ē
-ˈsir-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sincere

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