SINCERITY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does sincerity mean? 

• SINCERITY (noun)
  The noun SINCERITY has 4 senses:

1. an earnest and sincere feeling

2. the quality of being open and truthful; not deceitful or hypocritical

3. a quality of naturalness and simplicity

4. the trait of being serious

  Familiarity information: SINCERITY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SINCERITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An earnest and sincere feeling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

earnestness; seriousness; sincerity

Hypernyms ("sincerity" is a kind of...):

gravity; solemnity (a solemn and dignified feeling)

Derivation:

sincere (characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being open and truthful; not deceitful or hypocritical

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

they demanded some proof of my sincerity

Hypernyms ("sincerity" is a kind of...):

truthfulness (the quality of being truthful)

Attribute:

sincere (open and genuine; not deceitful)

insincere (lacking sincerity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sincerity"):

heartiness; wholeheartedness (the quality of hearty sincerity)

singleness; straightforwardness (without hypocrisy)

Antonym:

insincerity (the quality of not being open or truthful; deceitful or hypocritical)

Derivation:

sincere (open and genuine; not deceitful)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A quality of naturalness and simplicity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

sincerity; unassumingness

Context example:

the simple sincerity of folk songs

Hypernyms ("sincerity" is a kind of...):

naturalness (the quality of being natural or based on natural principles)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The trait of being serious

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

earnestness; serious-mindedness; seriousness; sincerity

Context example:

a lack of solemnity is not necessarily a lack of seriousness

Hypernyms ("sincerity" is a kind of...):

trait (a distinguishing feature of your personal nature)

Attribute:

serious (concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities)

frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sincerity"):

commitment; committedness (the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose)

graveness; gravity; soberness; sobriety; somberness; sombreness (a manner that is serious and solemn)

sedateness; solemness; solemnity; staidness (a trait of dignified seriousness)

Derivation:

sincere (characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions)

 Context examples 

I have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity, said Elizabeth warmly; but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The sailor Johnson was swayed by idea, by principle, and truth, and sincerity.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I, too, have seen them all, and heartily believe in the sincerity of your resolution, since it begins to bear fruit.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

There was a charm, perhaps, in his sincerity, his steadiness, his integrity, which Miss Crawford might be equal to feel, though not equal to discuss with herself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I suspected him, and determined to test his sincerity.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Believe me, and Elinor spoke it with the truest sincerity, nothing could be farther from my intention than to give you such an idea.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

It puzzles me now to remember with what absurd sincerity I doated on this little toy, half fancying it alive and capable of sensation.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And all this was said with a truth and sincerity of feeling irresistible.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

James accepted this tribute of gratitude, and qualified his conscience for accepting it too, by saying with perfect sincerity, “Indeed, Catherine, I love you dearly.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She told me we must part, and told me why; and we condoled with one another, in all sincerity.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)