sincere

adjective

sin·​cere sin-ˈsir How to pronounce sincere (audio)
sən-
sincerer; sincerest
Synonyms of sincerenext
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

Synonyms

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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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And the marketing gap was clear: Despite Black women shelling out huge sums of money for goods and services, no publication was targeting them in a sincere way. — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025 And the most sincere form of flattery is imitation. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Aug. 2025 All of this is accompanied by the heartbreaking and unparalleled voice of the Latin Grammy winner, which makes her music sincere, nostalgic, and atmospheric. — Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025 The first country singer to headline Lollapalooza was personable and sincere in a genre whose biggest hits revel in karma and spite. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sincere

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

Rhymes for sincere

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Browse Nearby Words

since
sincere
sincerely
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Cite this Entry

“Sincere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sincere. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.

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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

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