insincerity
C1Formal and semi-formal
Definition
Meaning
The quality of not expressing genuine feelings or beliefs; being dishonest, deceitful, or hypocritical in one's expressions.
The act or state of saying or doing something without meaning it sincerely, often involving flattery, false promises, or concealing one's true thoughts for social, political, or personal gain.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This noun describes a trait or a specific instance of behaviour. It is an uncountable noun referring to the abstract quality, but can be used with determiners like 'an air of...'. It is a state noun derived from the adjective 'insincere'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Both varieties use the word identically.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotation in both varieties, implying dishonesty and untrustworthiness.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. Slightly more common in formal written contexts (e.g., political commentary, literary criticism) than in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] insincerity (e.g., detect, show, suspect)[Preposition] of insincerity (e.g., an air of, a hint of)[Adjective] insincerity (e.g., blatant, political)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to) ring hollow (shows insincerity)”
- “with a forked tongue”
- “crocodile tears”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Criticising corporate apologies or marketing claims perceived as dishonest. 'The CEO's apology was met with scepticism due to its perceived insincerity.'
Academic
Analysing rhetoric, political speech, or literary characters. 'The study examines the linguistic markers of insincerity in diplomatic communiqués.'
Everyday
Describing someone's compliment or apology that seems fake. 'I could sense the insincerity in his voice when he congratulated me.'
Technical
Less common. Potentially in psychology or communication studies discussing deceptive communication.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- His smile didn't quite reach his eyes, insincerising his congratulations.
- (Note: 'insincerise' is exceedingly rare and non-standard; 'feign' or 'simulate' are used instead)
American English
- Politicians are often accused of insincerising their concern for voters. (See note above)
adverb
British English
- He smiled insincerely while criticising her idea.
- The spokesperson insincerely praised the government's record.
American English
- She laughed insincerely at her boss's joke.
- He insincerely promised to keep in touch.
adjective
British English
- She gave an insincere apology just to appease her manager.
- His insincere flattery was obvious to everyone in the room.
American English
- The candidate's insincere promises failed to convince the electorate.
- I received an insincere compliment about my presentation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His apology sounded full of insincerity.
- I don't like people who show insincerity.
- The public detected a note of insincerity in the minister's speech.
- Her constant flattery was betrayed by an underlying insincerity.
- The diplomat's carefully worded statement was a masterclass in strategic insincerity.
- Beneath the veneer of politeness, a profound insincerity characterised all their dealings.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the opposite of 'SINCERITY'. IN (not) + SINCERITY. Picture someone giving you a compliment while crossing their fingers behind their back.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSINCERITY IS A MASK/CONCEALMENT (hiding true feelings), INSINCERITY IS A FALSE NOTE (inauthentic sound), INSINCERITY IS A HOLLOW VESSEL (lacking genuine content).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'неискренность' which is a direct translation and correct, but English 'insincerity' is more formal. Avoid using 'лицемерие' (hypocrisy) as a direct synonym; hypocrisy is stronger and more systemic. 'Фальшь' is a closer everyday equivalent in tone.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable /'ɪnsɪnˌserɪti/. Incorrect use as a countable noun: 'He told many insincerities.' (Use 'insincere remarks' instead). Confusing adjective and noun: 'His apology was full of insincere.' (needs 'insincerity').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'insincerity' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Lying is a direct statement of a known falsehood. Insincerity is broader; it can involve lies, but also exaggerated praise, false enthusiasm, or promises made with no intention to keep them. It's more about the lack of genuine feeling behind the words.
Almost never. It is a strongly negative word describing a moral or social fault. In very rare, ironic contexts, it might be described as 'tactful' or 'diplomatic', but the core meaning remains negative.
Treating it as a countable noun (e.g., 'He told many insincerities'). It is an uncountable abstract noun. You would say 'He made many insincere remarks' or 'There was a lot of insincerity in his speech'.
No, the standard preposition is 'of'. Correct: 'full of insincerity', 'filled with insincerity' (using 'with' for the verb 'filled'). 'An air of insincerity' is also a common collocation.