What's the difference between earnest and honest?

Earnest


Definition:

  • (n.) Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
  • (a.) Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers.
  • (a.) Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
  • (a.) Serious; important.
  • (v. t.) To use in earnest.
  • (n.) Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.
  • (n.) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) "For a better world, not only for the Iranian people but for the next generation across the globe, I earnestly hope that President Rouhani will receive a warm welcome and meaningful responses during his visit to the UN."
  • (2) Tragedy was averted because there was a little delay as the prayers did not commence in earnest and the bomb strapped to the body of the girl went off and killed her,” he added.
  • (3) However, despite repeated questions from reporters, Earnest did not rule out Obama approving fast-track without TAA if that combination somehow made it through procedural hurdles in the Senate.
  • (4) There's something very earnest about the build up to this MLS Cup final, as if the battle on the field between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake starts with a competition to see which team can "respect" the other one more fiercely.
  • (5) But at the same time, there is an earnest side to it all.
  • (6) Earnest confirmed some departures were likely as “members of the president’s staff to use the opportunity of the election” to leave the White House and “sort of engage in a transition”, but he rejected suggestions of a cull of big names.
  • (7) This begins in earnest after the 6-week assessment, which can provide information on which to base an exercise prescription.
  • (8) While Obama said in a written statement that he was “deeply disturbed” by the footage of Laquan’s shooting, spokesman Josh Earnest was reluctant to criticize Emanuel’s handling of the situation when pressed by reporters last week on whether the mayor should resign.
  • (9) Dean Garfield, president and CEO of tech business lobbying group and thinktank the Information Technology Industry Council, opened his address to the US-China Internet Industry Forum (where Xi was in attendance) in Silicon Valley on Wednesday thus: “We live in a world where the list of societal challenges is long, and getting longer, but where the collective collaboration between the United States and China is just, say, suboptimal.” Earnest said further that talk from Chinese officials on this subject was cheap.
  • (10) We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy, and governed by the rule of law, is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity,” spokesman Josh Earnest said.
  • (11) Lobbying for the job of BBC director general of the BBC is expected to begin in earnest following MediaGuardian's revelation late on Thursday that Thompson was planning to step down at the end of the year or the beginning of 2013.
  • (12) International monitoring of the ICIDH has begun in earnest.
  • (13) Yet, there is no doubt that All Star has been targeted for its specific qualities – the main ones being its feelgood nostalgia value and a laughably exuberant pop-punk style that feels totally earnest.
  • (14) Earnest insisted that a review into the delivery of aid to Egypt had not yet concluded, and said it was "inaccurate to suggest that we've cut off aid to Egypt".
  • (15) I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an endorsement [by Obama] in the Democratic primary,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in late August.
  • (16) Earnest, outlining Obama’s longstanding thinking about launching new air strikes in Iraq, noted that protecting US personnel was a core concern for the US president.
  • (17) I was asked to do it, but I thought it would be difficult to stay out of the fight on this, given that I really …” The Guardian view on Labour and Europe: voice of the nation time | Editorial Read more Johnson interrupts himself whenever he feels in danger of saying something that might sound too earnest.
  • (18) To the sound of an acoustic guitar and an earnest vocal, it opens with footage of a lonely Ed Miliband, wandering the dark, deserted streets of Westminster.
  • (19) Saying that he did not know more about the data destruction beyond what has been reported, Earnest said it was "hard for me to evaluate the propriety of that."
  • (20) White House press secretary Josh Earnest framed Clancy’s appointment as “in some ways the best of both worlds”.

Honest


Definition:

  • (a.) Decent; honorable; suitable; becoming.
  • (a.) Characterized by integrity or fairness and straight/forwardness in conduct, thought, speech, etc.; upright; just; equitable; trustworthy; truthful; sincere; free from fraud, guile, or duplicity; not false; -- said of persons and acts, and of things to which a moral quality is imputed; as, an honest judge or merchant; an honest statement; an honest bargain; an honest business; an honest book; an honest confession.
  • (a.) Open; frank; as, an honest countenance.
  • (a.) Chaste; faithful; virtuous.
  • (a.) To adorn; to grace; to honor; to make becoming, appropriate, or honorable.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) We have not yet been honest about the implications, and some damaging myths have arisen.
  • (2) Does anybody honestly believe the vast majority of migrants don’t want that too?
  • (3) We didn’t take anyone’s votes for granted and we have run a very strong positive campaign.” Asked if she expected Ukip to run have Labour so close, she said: “To be honest with you I have been through more or less every scenario.
  • (4) The military is not being honest about the number of men on strike: most of us are refusing to eat.
  • (5) The World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016 may be the most timely opportunity to make an honest appraisal of the effectiveness of the current system to deal with the sector’s “ new normal ” of finite resources and unlimited challenges.
  • (6) How, in the name of all that is decent and honest in this world did we let this happen?
  • (7) We are prepared to be honest with people and say that we will all need to chip in a little more.” The party’s health spokesman, Norman Lamb, said: “The NHS was once the envy of the world and this pledge is the first step in restoring it to where it should be.
  • (8) The Sun editor also said his newspaper was wrong to use the word "tran" in a headline to describe a transexual, saying that he felt that "I don't know this is our greatest moment, to be honest".
  • (9) I have always struggled with the quality of my own work but despite my misgivings about the photos I am taking I can't honestly say they would have been any better two years ago.
  • (10) She described Luke as being “open, honest and assertive” during the interview.
  • (11) The physician embarking on the long-term management of burned children must have a very strong and honest relationship with the patient and family or guardians and must use all available resources, including physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and others, over the course of the effort.
  • (12) First, they were asked to complete them honestly, reporting accurately on their behaviour patterns.
  • (13) Including these incentive or responsibility payments in fixed pay is also more honest in accounting terms.
  • (14) Right now I think the discussion is not honest and practical, it is hysterical and political.” In contrast to the IOC, which did not contact McLaren, he said the International Paralympic Committee had been in close touch as it decides on whether to ban the Russian team.
  • (15) "I'm just trying to be objective and honest," he says.
  • (16) Camila Batmanghelidjh is one of the most kind-hearted, honest and reliable people I know, and would do anything not only for her young people but for young people in general.
  • (17) Another – the problem they failed to solve at the last election – is how you write an honest manifesto of your liberalism when you know and the voters know that, if you do get to see power again, it will be shared with someone else.
  • (18) While this is something that gives substance to the familiar cry of “Never again,” it will be up to the countries in the western Balkans, and in particular Bosnia and Herzegovina, to engage in an honest reckoning with the past, rather than narratives based on chauvinism or denial.
  • (19) I honestly think so many Americans are scrambling so fast just to keep up that: a) they're not aware of what they're missing; b) they don't have time to agitate."
  • (20) Green party leader Natalie Bennett came unstuck by trying to be honest | Letters: Sara Parkin, Brian Wilson and Tim Daniel Read more Having announced the idea of a universal £72-a-week income in January, the party has struggled to say how it would raise the billions of pounds needed to implement the policy and faced questions about whether it would harm the poorest people.