plainspoken

adjective

ˈplān-ˈspō-kən How to pronounce plainspoken (audio)
Definition of plainspokennext
as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions a plainspoken woman who never hesitated to speak the unvarnished truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plainspoken Finally, a full 38 years after their last onscreen romance, the old friends re-teamed for Our Souls at Night (2017), a low-key and plainspoken story of late-in-life friendship turning to something more. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 The plainspoken lyrics align with a broader embrace of sincerity, privileging emotional directness over irony. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026 As Walmart hurtles into the AI age and rebrands itself as a tech company, the legacy of the chain’s plainspoken founder is lore in this city surrounded by cattle farms and poultry houses. — Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026 Her onstage persona is reminiscent of a battering ram — plainspoken, combative, and staccato. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plainspoken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainspoken
  1. outspoken
  2. honest
  3. candid
  4. frank
Adjective
  • Among the most politically delicate moves this month came when federal agents searched the home of Omar, one of the most outspoken congressional critics of the president.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Macklemore's defiant remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some social media users applauding his outspoken activism while others questioned his motives and accused him of being out of touch.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of outspoken
Adjective
  • My honest read on timing is that the five percent will be twenty percent by end of 2027, and fifty by end of 2029.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The original impetus for the film, to be honest, was to look at an incredible life story over a long German period.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • At a campaign stop Tuesday night in Calhoun, the billionaire nominee was surprisingly candid about his party’s struggles.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • John Goodman is getting candid about what led him to lose weight.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of candid
Adjective
  • To be frank, most of this new engine power isn’t very noticeable.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Inspired by director Josef Kubota Wladyka’s own mother, the film offers a refreshingly frank portrait of middle-aged female desire.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of frank

Browse Nearby Words

plains
plainspoken
plainspokenness
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Cite this Entry

“Plainspoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainspoken. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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