Vocabulary
sincere
adjective·/sin-SEER/
Real and honest in what you feel or say, with no pretending. A sincere apology or compliment actually means what it says.
Sincere is specifically about honesty of feeling and intention. A sincere thank-you is felt, not performed; a sincere apology owns the thing for real. Its opposite, insincere, is the flattery or the "sorry" that everyone can tell is hollow. Sincerity is quietly powerful precisely because so much communication is performed; people notice and trust the real thing. The noun is "sincerity."
5 ways to use “sincere” in a sentence
- “That was a sincere apology, and you could tell he meant it.”
- “I want to give you a sincere thank-you, not just a polite one.”
- “Her sincere interest in people is why everyone opens up to her.”
- “There was something so sincere about the way he said it that I believed him.”
- “A sincere compliment lands; an obvious flatter falls flat.”
Now say "sincere" out loud, in your own sentence.
The fastest way to actually own a word is to use it when you speak, not just read it. Practice in TalkStride and get scored on how clearly it comes out.
Common mistakes
- Confusing it with "sincerely" when you need the adjective, or vice versa.
- Treating it as identical to "genuine." Sincere is about honesty of feeling; genuine is about being real, not fake, more broadly.
- Overusing it as filler ("I sincerely think") where it adds nothing.
Similar words, and how they differ
genuine
Genuine is real, not fake, in nature. Sincere is specifically honest in feeling and intention.
honest
Honest is truthful about facts. Sincere is truthful about feelings and meaning what you say.
earnest
Earnest is sincere plus serious and heartfelt intensity. Sincere can be light; earnest is always in earnest.