overtly

adverb

overt·​ly ō-ˈvərt-lē 

ˈō-(ˌ)vərt-

: in an overt manner : in a way that is open, straightforward, or obvious

an overtly hostile remark

an overtly political message

… the fashion of dumbing down the public discourse was over. Being overtly brainy, simply being oneself, was back in style.

—Elizabeth Drew

In the late 1860's interest gradually waned in landscape paintings that overtly conveyed nationalistic, philosophical, and religious meanings.

—Franklin Kelly

It is now easier for French writers to write more overtly about the occupation because their country is now stressing reconciliation, forgiveness for whatever wrongs were done then …

—Barbara Probst Solomon

Examples of overtly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a monthslong investigation, WLRN has begun to peel back the layers of the Center, an entity that has long raised questions on campus about being an overtly political project. —Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 30 May 2026

But the group is also a kind of filter, a place where women from all ethnic backgrounds (a laudable aspect of the screenplay is the refusal to overtly classify the participants as Hutu or Tutsi) may exorcize some of their pain and anger before addressing the Gacaca. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2026

Among the more overtly geopolitical projects is The Plot Against the West, which investigates alleged links between anti-Israel protests in Europe following October 2023 and decades-long Soviet and Russian disinformation campaigns using anti-Zionist narratives to fuel instability in the West. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026

The shirts became larger, baggier, and more overtly styled, with embossed Kappa logos woven throughout the design in a way that felt distinctly late-’90s. —Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overtly

• covertly
• curtly