directness

noun

di·​rect·​ness də-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

dī-

1

: the character of being accurate in course or aim

2

: strict pertinence : straightforwardness

Her directness was disarming.

—Robin Cook

Synonyms of directness

• honesty
• sincerity
• frankness
• bluntness
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• candor

Examples of directness in a Sentence

his directness is much appreciated by his patients

Recent Examples on the Web

That directness, JayQuan says, is hip-hop’s biggest gift to the world. — Abraham Swee, USA Today, 29 June 2026

There is a brevity and directness to Liden’s work that allows for easy entry. — Erika Landström, Artforum, 2 June 2026

The title of Hu Anyan’s memoir anticipates the directness of his prose. — Rumaan Alam, The New York Review of Books, 23 May 2026

His filmmaking has a lovely, homespun directness. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for directness

• correctness
• perfectness
• incorrectness
• indirectness