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The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner
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disingenuous

IPA:

How to pronounce disingenuous (audio)

Dictionary definition of disingenuous

Slightly dishonest, insincere, or not speaking the complete truth.
"His apology was seen as disingenuous and lacking sincerity."

Detailed meaning of disingenuous

Disingenuous means insincere or not straightforward. It can describe a person who is not being genuine or honest, and who is hiding their true intentions or feelings. Disingenuous can also describe a statement or action that is not genuine or sincere, and that is intended to deceive or mislead. The term can be used to describe insincerity or lack of honesty in a person or their actions, and can have negative consequences for relationships or interactions. In general, disingenuous refers to insincerity or lack of honesty.

Example sentences containing disingenuous

1. His disingenuous apology, filled with excuses and lacking sincerity, rang hollow to those he had wronged.
2. She wore a disingenuous smile, hiding her true feelings behind a façade of friendliness.
3. The disingenuous sales pitch, promising impossible results, deceived unsuspecting customers into making regrettable purchases.
4. He had a disingenuous demeanor, often pretending to be friendly while secretly harboring ulterior motives.
5. Their disingenuous excuses, thinly veiling their lack of commitment, were transparent to anyone paying attention.
6. The disingenuous act, intended to manipulate public opinion, fooled no one who had been following the situation closely.

History and etymology of disingenuous

The adjective 'disingenuous' has its etymological roots in the Latin word 'disingenuus,' which is a combination of 'dis-' meaning 'not' and 'ingenium' meaning 'nature' or 'innate quality.' Therefore, 'disingenuous' etymologically conveys the idea of 'not having a true or genuine nature.' It originally described individuals who were not of noble birth or who were born outside of a particular social class, implying a lack of innate nobility. Over time, the term evolved to denote behaviors and statements that are slightly dishonest, insincere, or not entirely truthful. 'Disingenuous' now characterizes actions or expressions that conceal one's true intentions or feelings, often by feigning innocence or honesty while subtly deceiving others. This evolution reflects the shift from the notion of a lack of innate qualities to a lack of sincerity in one's outward presentation.

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Further usage examples of disingenuous

1. Disingenuous compliments, devoid of genuine admiration, lacked the warmth and sincerity that true compliments convey.
2. Her disingenuous flattery, constantly aimed at the boss, annoyed her coworkers who saw through the act.
3. His disingenuous promises, made to win favor but never intended to be fulfilled, left a trail of disappointment.
4. The disingenuous politician, known for making empty pledges during election campaigns, faced increased scrutiny from the media.
5. Disingenuous remarks, calculated to mislead, raised suspicion among those who questioned the speaker's honesty.
6. She saw through his disingenuous act, recognizing that he was using charm to conceal his true intentions.
7. His disingenuous intentions, masked by a veneer of altruism, became evident when he refused to follow through on his commitments.
8. Disingenuous tactics, such as misrepresenting facts, damaged trust between the two parties involved in the negotiation.
9. The disingenuous gesture, meant to mend fences, backfired when the recipient saw it as insincere and manipulative.
10. Their disingenuous response to the accusations evaded blame, instead of taking responsibility for their actions.
11. Disingenuous behavior, intended to advance personal interests at the expense of others, tarnished his reputation in the community.
12. The disingenuous offer, concealing hidden costs and conditions, left customers feeling deceived when they discovered the truth.
13. His disingenuous reasoning, based on flawed assumptions and incomplete information, failed to convince the skeptical audience.
14. Disingenuous apologies, lacking genuine remorse, couldn't mend the rift that had formed between the two estranged friends.
15. His apology seemed disingenuous, as he didn't show any real remorse for his actions.
16. The politician's disingenuous speech was filled with half-truths and misrepresentations.
17. The company's claim of being environmentally friendly was seen as disingenuous due to their history of pollution.
18. Her disingenuous compliment was clearly meant to manipulate the situation in her favor.
19. The marketing campaign was criticized for being disingenuous and misleading consumers.
20. His disingenuous smile did little to conceal the contempt he felt.
21. The actor gave a disingenuous explanation for his absence at the charity event.
22. It is disingenuous to pretend to support a cause only for personal gain or social status.
23. The author’s disingenuous portrayal of historical events drew criticism from historians.
24. The student's disingenuous excuse for not completing the assignment was met with skepticism by the teacher.
25. Critics argued that the corporate apology was disingenuous and merely an attempt to save face.
26. The disingenuous remark was intended to divert attention from the real issue at hand.
27. Her disingenuous praise was aimed at gaining favor with her boss.
28. The organization was accused of disingenuous fundraising tactics that preyed on people's emotions.
29. The celebrity's disingenuous activism was seen as a ploy to enhance their public image.

GRE 12 (Graduate Record Examination), Deceit and Pretense, Discipline and Self-Control, Clandestine and Conniving, Duplicity and Deceit, Manipulation and Deception, Dishonesty and Concealment

contrived,crafty,deceitful,devious,duplicitous,feigned,insincere,misleading,phony,sly

dishonest,dissembling,false,hypocritical,underhanded,untruthful

insincere, genuine, sincere, honest

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