Truthfulness is the quality of being honest and accurate in what you say. When you practice truthfulness, you tell things as they really are, even when it might be easier or more comfortable to bend the facts.

A truthful person avoids outright lies and also resists the temptation to exaggerate stories to make them more impressive, leave out important details to avoid trouble, or say things they're not sure about as if they're certain. If your friend asks whether you liked the drawing they worked hard on, truthfulness means giving a genuine response, while still being kind in how you express it.

Truthfulness builds trust. When your parents, teachers, and friends know they can count on you to tell the truth, they take what you say seriously and feel confident relying on you. Someone known for truthfulness gains a reputation for integrity, meaning their words match reality and you can depend on what they tell you.

The opposite of truthfulness includes lying, being deceptive (which means misleading people without technically lying), and being evasive (which means dodging questions to avoid revealing the truth). Truthfulness can require courage because sometimes the truth is uncomfortable or makes you look bad.