disingenuous

/ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒenjuəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒenjuəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdis-in-ˈjen-yə-wəs -yü-əs/ (ame, mw)

disingenuous — adjective

  • disingenuouspositive
  • more disingenuouscomparative
  • most disingenuoussuperlative

1. If someone is disingenuous, they seem frank or innocent on purpose, but they are

1.形容詞C1
釋義

If someone is disingenuous, they seem frank or innocent on purpose, but they are hiding what they really know, mean, or plan.

例句

Tara's surprised smile felt disingenuous because she had planned the party herself.

predicative: seem/felt disingenuous when someone is hiding prior knowledge

The minister gave a disingenuous answer when reporters asked about the missing emails.

disingenuous + answer / excuse / claim in public speech

同義詞
  • insincere

    Broader and slightly milder; it means not genuine, while 'disingenuous' often suggests a calculated show of honesty or innocence.

  • evasive

    Focuses on avoiding a direct answer rather than pretending openness.

  • duplicitous

    Stronger and more formal; suggests deliberate double-dealing, not just a misleading pose.

反義詞
  • candid

    Open and direct about what you really think or know.

  • frank

    Honest in a plain, straightforward way without hiding intention.

文法句型

be disingenuous

disingenuous + noun

it is disingenuous of + person + to-infinitive

be disingenuous about + noun

用法筆記

Often used when someone pretends surprise, innocence, or limited knowledge in order to avoid blame or make their position sound more reasonable. Common with nouns like answer, smile, excuse, claim, and tone.

常見錯誤

❌The box was disingenuous about its weight.
✅The label on the box was misleading about its weight.
💡'disingenuous' usually describes a person's behaviour, a statement, or a public pose, not an ordinary object.
❌I was disingenuous to the teacher that I forgot the homework.
✅I was disingenuous when I told the teacher I had forgotten the homework.
💡use it to describe a way of speaking or acting, not with 'to' before a person.