Disingenuous
/ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒenjuəs/adjective
Not sincere, especially when pretending to know less about something than one really does.
It was disingenuous of her to claim she had no idea about the surprise party.
Often appears as...
- disingenuous claim
- disingenuous argument
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Feigning Ignorance
Used when someone pretends to know less than they do to avoid blame or criticism.
Acting disingenuous, he denied knowledge of the issue, though he had discussed it last week.
Pro Tip 2/3Insincerity Tone
Disingenuous comments often have a tone that suggests insincerity, causing distrust amongst others.
Her praise sounded disingenuous, given her previous criticism.
Pro Tip 3/3Manipulative Strategy
Often used strategically in arguments or negotiations to mislead or gain advantage.
His disingenuous questions during the debate were aimed at misleading the audience.
Compare with
cunningdeceitfuldishonestfalsehypocriticalinsincerephoneytrustworthy
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