as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
candidness is something that we claim to admire—except when we are on the receiving end of a brutally honest assessment
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Recent Examples of candidness
The candidness and vulnerability became the catalyst for her memoir, Cancer Is Complicated, out Tuesday.
—
Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
But his open criticism of Ohtani, one of the most popular and talented baseball players in history, marked a rare candidness from the manager.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
But his open criticism of Ohtani, one of the most popular and talented baseball players in history, marked a rare candidness from the manager.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidness
Noun
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Her honesty about the emotional toll of illness also landed powerfully.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
10 Oct. 2025
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Lala’s journey of self-discovery is told with honesty, transparency, and urgency, giving voice to the emotions and choices that many young people and students often carry in silence.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Several applauded Clark’s transparency and sincerity.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
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Critics after the screening agreed that when given a character perfectly tailored to his strengths (cocky sincerity, charismatic twerpiness), Timmy is a live wire.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The recording of that release as depicted in the documentary is the balancing light to the overwhelming dark Osbourne experienced in his later years, a series of illnesses, hospitalizations, frustrations and ceaseless pain shown with unblinking frankness.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Collier, who was injured during the playoff series, read from a prepared statement that shocked everyone watching—if not for its contents, for its frankness.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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They were granted anonymity for their candor.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Let’s begin with candor about capability.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For parents, the name of the game is forthrightness.—
Nona Han,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Pace was central to everything good about Forest, who were set up to hit opposition with explosive speed and directness on the counter-attack through players such as Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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In films like that, the cultural commentary comes more from metaphor than with the bluntness and directness of The Purge.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In films like that, the cultural commentary comes more from metaphor than with the bluntness and directness of The Purge.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
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There’s been a bluntness all season to the Hermits’ chats that ordinarily might grate on me.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Candidness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidness. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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