truthful
TROOTH-fl
Truthful (adj) means Honest and inclined to tell the truth. Example: “He gave a truthful account of what happened at the meeting.”
adj
1
Honest and inclined to tell the truth.
"Mr. Musk was not being truthful, Mr. Rubio said. What about the more than 1,500 State Department officials who took early retirement in buyouts?"
— Jonathan Swan, Inside the Explosive Meeting Where Trump Officials Clashed With Elon Musk (2025)
"He gave a truthful account of what happened at the meeting."
"Be truthful with me, even if the answer isn't what I want to hear."
"someone's truthful nature"
How to use truthful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes someone honest, or a statement that accurately reflects reality.
Common pairings
a truthful answer
truthful account
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like truthful.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more truthful
- Superlative
- most truthful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gave a _____ account of what happened at the meeting.
Etymology
Formed from truth and -ful; it is a piecewise doublet of trothful, which comes from Middle English trouþeful.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for truthful
See all rhymes for truthful →Frequently asked questions
What does “truthful” mean?
The word “truthful” means honest and inclined to tell the truth. In plain terms, describes someone honest, or a statement that accurately reflects reality.
How do you pronounce “truthful”?
“Truthful” is pronounced TROOTH-fl (/ˈtɹuːθ.f(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “truthful” in a sentence?
Here is “truthful” used in a sentence: “He gave a truthful account of what happened at the meeting.”
What is the opposite of “truthful”?
The opposite of “truthful” — its antonyms — is untruthful.
What part of speech is “truthful”?
“Truthful” is an adjective.
Is “truthful” a common word?
“Truthful” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
