insincere
Meaning
not expressing genuine feelings; not honest or sincere.
Structure
Usage
his apology seemed forced and insincere.
she was hurt by the insincere compliments from her colleagues.
politicians are often accused of making insincere promises.
Etymology
the word 'insincere' is a direct negation formed in english by adding the latin-derived negative prefix 'in-' to the adjective 'sincere'. 'sincere' itself entered english from latin sincerus, which held meanings of purity and being unadulterated, possibly from roots meaning 'of one growth' or 'clean'. therefore, the literal construction 'not sincere' logically evolved into the modern abstract meaning of falseness in emotion or intention, describing a person or statement that is not pure in its expressed feelings.
Analysis
in- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'not'); sincere (from latin sincerus, meaning 'clean, pure, genuine').