1
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
his unabashed plainness in telling people exactly what he thought of them was often offensive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in simplicity
the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements
the plainness and clean lines of that coffeemaker make it a piece of modern sculpture as well as a kitchen appliance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plainness
To understand why men might have adopted a clothing system that prioritized plainness and conformity over color and change, this book investigates the gradual crystallization of this civic uniform of masculinity.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Matthew Arnold, in the 19th century, famously said the qualities of Homer are the plainness, the rapidity, and the nobility.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
The through-line across all of it – the music, the acting, the international stages – is a pair of principles Lo articulates with plainness.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
Matthew Arnold, in the 19th century, famously said the qualities of Homer are the plainness, the rapidity, and the nobility.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
The through-line across all of it – the music, the acting, the international stages – is a pair of principles Lo articulates with plainness.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainness
Noun
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Blunt honesty had clicked with a relentless desire for improvement, launching a professional partnership and personal friendship that greatly enriched the careers of both men and, in time, would meaningfully alter the course of Chelsea history.
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What drew him to the exchange wasn’t controversy, but honesty.
Noun
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Light and Breezy One of the many virtues of the ’60s shift is its simplicity.
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The collection expressed an idea of contemporary simplicity, built through precise proportions, evolved materials and a new visual lightness.
Noun
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But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.
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Within a couple of hours, Wilkins’ replies to the post were flooded with accusations of favoritism, questioning the use of taxpayer funds to book her and mocking her sincerity about being chosen as a performer following high-profile exits from the event.
Noun
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But where her labelmates routinely drape their songs in warm, dense fuzz, Babuka Black opts for clarity and directness.
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His filmmaking has a lovely, homespun directness.
Noun
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Seydoux asks me in a moment of frankness.
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Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.
Noun
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But the Windows handheld software experience on the Claw is just awful compared to the straightforwardness of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
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On Monday morning, Starmer, whose resignation has appeared inevitable for some time, delivered the news with his customary straightforwardness.
Noun
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With his usual bluntness, Jokic said the Nuggets weren’t a good enough team to win last season based on the results.
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And thanks to his bluntness, something clicked.
Noun
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Your forthrightness will set the tone for future dates.
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There’s something both startling and seductive about such forthrightness.
Cite this Entry
“Plainness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainness. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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