plainspoken

adjective

plain·​spo·​ken ˈplān-ˈspō-kən 

: candid, frank

plainspokenness

ˈplān-ˈspō-kən-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• outspoken
• honest
• candid
• frank

Examples of plainspoken in a Sentence

a plainspoken woman who never hesitated to speak the unvarnished truth

Recent Examples on the Web

Bands with songs about their members’ tumultuous interpersonal dynamics are not unique — see the long history of Fleetwood Mac — but what makes Hartzman’s approach to the topic so compelling, in both prose and song, is her vulnerability, her plainspoken lyricism, and keen observation. —Karly Hartzman, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025

All that was left to do was promote it, in a way he hasn’t been asked to do in years, and to wait and see how millions of viewers react to a story dredged out of horror-story reimaginings into something aiming for plainspoken truth. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025

Joe Manchin is as plainspoken as the day is long. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025

The songwriting reveals Solana Rowe at her most plainspoken and blunt. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for plainspoken

• awoken
• betoken
• heartbroken
• outspoken
• unbroken
• unspoken
• broken
• oaken
• spoken
• token
• woken

Kids Definition

plainspoken

adjective

plain·​spo·​ken -ˈspō-kən 

: speaking or spoken frankly