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Prepositions after adjectives

dishonest: which preposition follows it?

Dishonest is most commonly used with about, with, and to. Other combinations are limited or depend on a different sentence structure.

Quick answer

Common uses of dishonest

Use dishonest about for a topic, dishonest with for the person receiving false information, and dishonest to when talking about unfair treatment of someone. Dishonest in is possible before an activity or area, while dishonest of is uncommon and usually appears in expressions such as dishonest of someone to do something.

He was dishonest about his qualifications.
She was dishonest with her parents.
It was dishonest to the customers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
dishonest about + topic

Talking about a subject or fact

Use dishonest about when someone lies or hides the truth concerning a particular matter.

The company was dishonest about its finances.
He became dishonest about where he had been.
2
dishonest with + person

Talking about the person affected

Use dishonest with to name the person someone lies to or misleads.

Don't be dishonest with your doctor.
She admitted being dishonest with her team.
3
dishonest to + person

Talking about unfair or unethical treatment

Dishonest to often means unfair or morally wrong toward someone.

It would be dishonest to the voters.
They were dishonest to their clients.
4
dishonest in + activity

Talking about behaviour in a situation

Dishonest in is used before an activity, process, or area where dishonest behaviour occurs.

He was dishonest in business dealings.
The athlete was dishonest in competition.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
dishonest about
She was dishonest about the results.
lying or hiding the truth concerning a topic
dishonest with
He was dishonest with his friends.
not truthful toward a person
dishonest to
The policy was dishonest to consumers.
unfair or unethical toward someone
dishonest in
They were dishonest in their reporting.
showing dishonesty during an activity or process
dishonest of
It was dishonest of him to change the figures.
used in a fixed pattern describing someone's behaviour, not a general preposition after dishonest

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using dishonest to for a topic

Use about for the subject being hidden or lied about.

✕ She was dishonest to her age. ✓ She was dishonest about her age.

Confusing dishonest with and dishonest to

With focuses on the person receiving false information. To often describes unfair treatment.

✕ He was dishonest to me about the contract. ✓ He was dishonest with me about the contract.

Using dishonest of before a noun topic

Dishonest of is mainly used in patterns such as dishonest of someone to do something.

✕ The company was dishonest of its finances. ✓ The company was dishonest about its finances.

Using dishonest at as a standard pattern

Dishonest at is not idiomatic for this meaning. Use in with activities.

✕ He was dishonest at business. ✓ He was dishonest in business.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was dishonest ___ her employer about the missing money.
2. The report was dishonest ___ its environmental impact.
3. It was dishonest ___ customers to hide the extra fees.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say dishonest about something?

Yes. Dishonest about is the most common pattern for topics, facts, or situations.

What is the difference between dishonest with and dishonest to?

Dishonest with focuses on the person someone lies to. Dishonest to usually means unfair or unethical toward someone.

Is dishonest of correct?

It is correct in patterns such as It was dishonest of him to lie, but it is not commonly used before a topic noun.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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