Untrustworthy: Definition and Synonyms
untrustworthy – Definition and Part of Speech
Untrustworthy is an adjective that describes someone or something that cannot be relied upon to be honest, truthful, or faithful. It implies a lack of reliability in maintaining promises, agreements, or integrity.
Grammatical Forms:
- Adjective: untrustworthy (e.g., “an untrustworthy partner”)
- Other forms are derived from the adjective base: trustworthiness (noun), untrustworthily (adverb).
Core Synonyms
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishonest | Emphasizes a lack of integrity and truthfulness. | “His dishonest behavior was evident in his business dealings.” | Formal/Business |
| Deceitful | Highlights the tendency to deceive or lie. | “She gave a deceitful smile, hiding her true intentions.” | Literary/Creative |
| Unreliable | Focuses on inconsistency and lack of dependability. | “The unreliable forecast made it hard for us to plan our trip.” | Informal/Academic |
| Treacherous | Suggests betrayal or treachery in relationships. | “His treacherous acts shocked everyone who thought they could trust him.” | Historical/Descriptive |
| Malign | Implies having harmful intentions or nature. | “The malign influence of the competitor was felt across the industry.” | Academic/Literary |
Usage Notes
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Dishonest: Commonly used in business and legal contexts where truthfulness is crucial. For example, “She was found to be dishonest during the audit.”
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Deceitful: Suitable for creative or descriptive writing that paints a vivid picture of someone’s character. Example: “The deceitful nature of her charm was soon uncovered.”
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Unreliable: Appropriate in both formal and casual settings to describe anything from people to products. E.g., “His phone is quite unreliable when it comes to battery life.”
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Treacherous: Often used in historical, literary, or dramatic contexts to convey betrayal. For instance, “The king’s closest ally turned out to be treacherous.”
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Malign: This word is often seen in academic papers and literature that delve into character motivations or influences. Example: “His malign thoughts led to several poor decisions.”
Common Pitfalls
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Untrustworthy vs Unreliable: While both words indicate a lack of dependability, “unreliable” can refer more broadly to things or systems (e.g., technology), whereas “untrustworthy” often pertains directly to people.
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Deceitful vs Dishonest: Both imply a lack of truthfulness, but “deceitful” often carries a connotation of intentional deception, whereas “dishonest” is broader and can refer to any form of lying or cheating.
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Treacherous vs Malign: “Treacherous” refers more specifically to betrayal in relationships or alliances, while “malign” implies evil or harmful intentions on a more abstract level.
Final Recap
In summary, the word untrustworthy can be effectively replaced with synonyms like dishonest, deceitful, unreliable, treacherous, and malign depending on context. Each synonym carries its own nuance, making them suitable for different registers such as business, academic, or creative writing.
To enhance your vocabulary, try using these words in sentences tailored to their specific contexts and styles. This practice will help solidify your understanding of their subtle differences and improve your expressive capability across various forms of communication.