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directness

noun

di·​rect·​ness də-ˈrek(t)-nəs How to pronounce directness (audio)
dī-
1
: the character of being accurate in course or aim
2
: strict pertinence : straightforwardness
Her directness was disarming.Robin Cook

Examples of directness in a Sentence

his directness is much appreciated by his patients
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is greater directness and intensity in both his game and their overall play, and long-time Liverpool No 2 Pep Lijnders’ summer arrival as an assistant to Guardiola has clearly contributed here. Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025 In keeping with a pleasing streak of industry satire here—Michael Haneke and Netflix get hilarious shout-outs—Fanning has a bracing directness that cuts through all the dramaturgical throat-clearing. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025 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 The researchers' findings show how recent AI models default to Western-style directness, completely missing the cultural cues that govern everyday interactions for millions of Persian speakers worldwide. ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for directness

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of directness was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Directness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/directness. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.

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