What does insincerely mean?
Insincerely is an adverb meaning in a false or insincere manner. It describes speech, gestures, apologies, friendliness, and other expressions that appear appropriate on the surface but lack genuine feeling, honesty, or remorse. The word is especially common in constructions such as “not insincerely apologize” and “insincerely friendly,” where it highlights the gap between outward behavior and inner sincerity. Unlike sincere, which typically describes people, feelings, or statements as genuine, insincerely focuses on the manner in which someone acts or speaks. It can sound sharply critical, but it may also be used more mildly to suggest that a remark or apology is not entirely convincing. The word is useful when discussing social performance, politeness, hypocrisy, and the difference between what people say and what they actually mean.
adverbIn a manner that is false or insincere; without genuine feeling or truthfulness.
- In a false, hypocritical, or insincere manner.
"She apologized insincerely, offering no remorse for the hurt she had caused."
"He smiled insincerely as he congratulated his rival."
"The apology sounded insincerely and lacked any sense of accountability."
Insincerely captures the moment when politeness on the surface masks a lack of genuine feeling underneath.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does insincerely come from?
Insincerely was formed in the 19th century from the adjective insincere and the adverbial suffix -ly. Its base adjective insincere comes from in-, a prefix meaning “not,” and sincere, a word derived from Latin sincerus, meaning “pure” or “genuine.” The related noun insincerity and the adjective insincere developed within the same English word family, reflecting the longstanding opposition between genuine expression and false or hypocritical behavior.
Related word forms
How insincerely is actually used
Insincerely is often used with words such as apologize, regret, friendly, and smile. It describes the manner or quality of an expression or statement, rather than directly naming a person's character.
Easily confused with insincerely
Sincere describes a person, statement, or feeling as genuine and truthful, whereas insincerely describes an action or manner as false or insincere.