Disingenuous

Disingenuous is an adjective used to describe someone who is not candid or sincere, presenting themselves as honest while concealing ulterior motives or purposes. It characterizes statements, actions, or attitudes that appear well-meaning or truthful on the surface but lack genuine candor.

Etymology: The word combines the prefix dis- meaning not with ingenuous, historically meaning frank or sincere. Thus disingenuous literally signals a lack of genuineness or straightforwardness. The sense emerged in English in the 18th century and has become a common critique in discussions of rhetoric and motive.

Usage: Disingenuous is typically applied to deliberate, self-serving pretense rather than inadvertent mistakes. It is often used to condemn political or public statements, corporate messaging, or personal exchanges where the speaker pretends concern or honesty to obscure true aims. Example: "Her apology felt disingenuous, as if she were calculating the optics rather than expressing remorse."

Notes: While related to insincerity, dishonesty, and deceit, disingenuous emphasizes feigned candor rather than outright lying. It can describe tactics as well as character and is generally negative in tone. Related terms include insincere, hypocritical, evasive, and duplicitous.