Definition of CANDID

Choose the Right Synonym for candid

frank, candid, open, plain mean showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks. frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience. frank discussions candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion. a candid appraisal open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid. open in saying what they think plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression. plain talk

The Many Shades of Candid

It is interesting that candid, which has the original meaning in English of “white,” should have so many colors of meaning. The word comes from the French candide, which is from the Latin candidus (“bright, white”). Candid is not often used to mean “white” these days, and has shed another of its older meanings, “clear, pure.” Many of its current meanings are concerned with forms of honesty and forthrightness. It may refer to the indication or suggestion of sincere honesty (“her candid eyes”), or to something being marked by honest expression (“a candid talk”). However, it also carries the meaning of bluntness (or “disposed to criticize severely”), as well as “free from bias, prejudice, or malice.” The most recent sense it has taken on is in the vocabulary of photography: “relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed.”

Examples of candid in a Sentence

If Bart Knaggs had been totally candid, he would have told me that when his prospective father-in-law, who was a doctor, had heard that the cancer had moved into my lungs, he said to Bart, "Well, your friend is dead." — Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001 To be candid, I have wondered whether it is fair to write about a man for whom I cannot help but feel a real distaste. — Jill Lepore, Journal of American History, June 2001 There are candid … anecdotes of open-heart surgery. — Joyce Carol Oates, New York Times Book Review, 30 Sept. 1990 He was quite candid about his past. She gave us her candid opinion on the matter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even the president’s own officials are too scared to offer candid advice. — The Economist, "Tanzania’s president loves mega-projects. Careful planning, less so," 8 June 2019 Each quarter, employees answer an electronic survey that allows them to provide candid, anonymous feedback about everything from the benefits that are important to them to overall cultural issues. — Gwen Moran, Fortune, "Better Communication Tools Can Radically Improve Workplaces—If Managers Can Convince Workers to Speak Up," 8 June 2019 Leave it to the refreshingly candid Lilly to pump the breaks on remake-mania. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, "Evangeline Lilly does not want a Lost reboot," 7 June 2019 The idea is to create a bright atmosphere that encourages open dialogue and expression, with conversations that are both playfully funny and emotionally candid. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, "RuPaul on returning to daytime TV after 20-year absence: 'It's just in my blood, darling'," 7 June 2019 As a kind of dessert to the main course, the festival also treated us to a candid look at Dallas' growing identity as a haven for people who write books. — Michael Granberry, Dallas News, "The Festival of Books and Ideas serves up a 5-day buffet of ideas for Dallas," 6 June 2019 In a few years, when events have passed and life has happened, who knows what significance that cache of candid footage living on our smartphones will take on? — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "Inside Danielle & Kevin Jonas' Love Story," 5 June 2019 In real life, Kaling has built a personal connection with her fans via social media that includes candid tweets and Instagram stories about making homemade baby food for her daughter, Katherine. — Cady Lang, Time, "'It's Really Essential to My Life.' Mindy Kaling Explains Why She Needs Privacy When It Comes to Her Daughter and Relationships," 5 June 2019 His candid account ultimately leads to his personal downfall -- the loss of his career and his reputation -- and, as seen in the first episode, ultimately his life. — Sandra Gonzalez, CNN, "'Chernobyl' finale sparks Emmy buzz for Jared Harris," 4 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'candid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.