sincere
Truly meaning what you say or feel, without pretending.
sincere in a sentence
- Her apology was so sincere that I forgave her at once.
- The coach gave sincere praise after training, and you could tell he truly meant every word.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to sincere?
- Afake
- Bfalse
- Chonest
Show the answer
C: honest. The other three mean the opposite of sincere.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to sincere?
- Ahonest
- Btrue
- Cgenuine
- Dfake
Show the answer
D: fake. The other three mean nearly the same as sincere.
Words that mean something similar
honest, true, genuine
Words that mean the opposite
fake, false
Careful: sincere is not genuine
Sincere is only about people meaning what they say or feel. Genuine can describe things as well. Read why children mix them up.
More words about character & personality
- sinister: Seeming evil or threatening, as if something bad is about to happen.
- sly: Clever at tricking people in a sneaky way.
- smug: Too pleased with yourself in a way that annoys other people.
- sober: Serious and calm, not silly or playful.
- sprightly: Lively and full of energy, especially for someone old.
- staunch: Very loyal and firm in your support.
- steadfast: Staying firm and not giving up, no matter what happens.
- stern: Strict and serious, expecting to be obeyed.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test