Definition of DISINGENUOUS (original) (raw)
: lacking in candor
also : giving a false appearance of simple frankness : calculating
Did you know?
A disingenuous remark might contain some superficial truth, but it is delivered with the intent to deceive or to serve some hidden purpose. Its base word ingenuous (derived from a Latin adjective meaning "native" or "freeborn") can describe someone who, like a child, is innocent or lacking guile or craftiness. English speakers began frequently joining the negative prefix dis- with ingenuous to create disingenuous during the 17th century.
Examples of disingenuous in a Sentence
"It's had nine murders since 1937—about the same as you would get in many small towns." This was correct, but a wee disingenuous. The AT [Appalachian Trail] had no murders in its first thirty-six years and nine in the past twenty-two. —
Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods, 1999 … and he egged Badger on, asking a disingenuous question about the antivivisection rally in Cleveland, and as Badger took the thought up and chewed it over, the Doctor made as if to excuse himself. —T. Coraghessan Boyle, The Road to Wellville, 1993 … he has a disingenuous way of resorting to slang when he wants to make a big point but is afraid of sounding pretentious. —Karen Schoemer, New York Times Book Review, 31 Oct. 1993 Unity is at best an ideal, at worst a disingenuous political slogan. —Salman Rushdie, The Independent on Sunday, 25 Nov. 1990
Her recent expressions of concern are self-serving and disingenuous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now that the sports leagues and their media partners have all gone from pretending that gambling doesn’t exist to actively encouraging fans to risk a few bucks in the name of good, clean fun, Gavin’s disingenuous casino signage has mutated into a series of laughably affected PSAs. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 31 Jan. 2025 The worst-faith conversations people are having about the IUD guy are not unlike the woman who made chili for her neighbors or the wife that tweeted about enjoying a cup of coffee with her husband — seemingly everyone is addicted to being disingenuous for a few internet points. —Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Jan. 2025 For someone to single out sports betting as uniquely damaging is disingenuous and ignores the broader context of how Americans allocate discretionary income. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 There are many answers, most of them disingenuous on the part of restaurateur who recognizes the problem but does nothing about it. —John Mariani, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disingenuous 
Word History
First Known Use
1655, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of disingenuous was in 1655
Dictionary Entries Near disingenuous
Cite this Entry
“Disingenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disingenuous. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 7 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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