disingenuous

Definitions

dis- (not) + ingenuous (frank, innocent). Ingenuous comes from Latin ingenuus = 'born free, native' — and free-born Romans were assumed to be open and honest. So disingenuous = NOT genuinely frank: someone playing innocent while hiding an agenda.

Why It Means This

The trick to this word is seeing the buried genuine inside it. ingenuous (innocent) and genuine (real) both come from gen- 'born' — what is inborn is unfeigned. Adding dis- flips it: disingenuous is the calculated opposite of innocent honesty, not mere lying but lying that wears the mask of sincerity.

Common Collocations

• 1.disingenuous to……是虚伪的
• 2.disingenuous argument别有用心的论调
• 3.deeply disingenuous极其虚伪

Example Sentences

• 1.

  It was disingenuous of him to claim he had no idea about the plan.

• 2.

  Her apology felt disingenuous, more strategy than remorse.

• 3.

  Critics called the policy a disingenuous attempt to win votes.

Easily Confused

disingenuous vs dishonest — dishonest means simply lying or cheating. disingenuous is subtler: pretending to be naive, frank or innocent while actually being calculating. You can be disingenuous without telling an outright lie — just by feigning sincerity. Also note: NOT the opposite of 'ingenious' (clever) — different root entirely.