adjective

• Not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.

  ‘this journalist was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Pete's selection for the show is nothing but cheap entertainment, and it is disingenuous to pretend otherwise.’
  • ‘It is disingenuous to pretend that any other analysis is tenable.’
  • ‘Yet it is disingenuous to pretend that there is not a question of individual liberty at stake here.’
  • ‘It would, however, be disingenuous to pretend that everything in a reduced world will be comfortable to accept.’
  • ‘This disingenuous fluff was calculated to excuse the intrusive nature of the exercise.’
  • ‘She could have portrayed herself as more scared and disingenuous, than crafty and lying.’
  • ‘The Defendant's evidence is not only disingenuous, but false in material respects.’
  • ‘His appeal to blasphemy is played in such a way that it seems a disingenuous pretence.’
  • ‘Mr. Lister's claim that other schools on the Island have experienced similar situations is also disingenuous.’
  • ‘I thought both men made some good points and both said some evasive, disingenuous things.’
  • ‘To single out Moore in an age of mind-numbing folksiness in politics is disingenuous.’
  • ‘But to present it as useful in that it has shown up different work practices and rosters is a bit disingenuous.’
  • ‘The press's coverage of health care and accessibility issues is disingenuous at best.’
  • ‘He also, cryptically accused some club presidents of being disingenuous.’
  • ‘The claim of security issues is as transparent as it is disingenuous.’
  • ‘The trust of the disinherited was further shattered and disowned by the disingenuous attitude of the state.’
  • ‘That's as clear an admission as one could hope for that the entire exercise is disingenuous.’
  • ‘Most of the men seem to be intimidated by her, or at least, contemptuous of her because she's disingenuous.’
  • ‘So to say that we're disingenuous in standing behind the defense is absolutely wrong.’
  • ‘This is slightly disingenuous, as his huge success in addressing the needs of women shopping has undoubtedly made him rich.’

  Synonyms

  dishonest, deceitful, underhand, underhanded, duplicitous, double-dealing, two-faced, dissembling, insincere, false, lying, untruthful, mendacious

  View synonyms