unvarnished

adjective

un·​var·​nished ˌən-ˈvär-nisht 

1

a

: not adorned or glossed : plain, straightforward

told the unvarnished truth

b

: artless, frank

the unvarnished candor of old people and children

—Janet Flanner

2

: not coated with or as if with varnish : crude, unfinished

Synonyms

• simple
• plain
• unadorned
• naked

Examples of unvarnished in a Sentence

If you want my unvarnished opinion, the movie stinks.

I'm telling the unvarnished truth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Much of the charm of Silverado Resort has always depended on its unvarnished rustic setting amid the 1200 acres of rolling hills and towering oaks that give the golf courses their traditional parkland character. —David Weiss, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

The deft tonal shifts, nuanced storytelling, and unvarnished performances announce the arrival of a riveting actor and filmmaker. —Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025

This unvarnished approach hasn’t always been welcomed. —Simon Mainwaring, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

Low-key nude manicures have been trending for a minute now, but Barbaro’s nails appear truly unvarnished. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for unvarnished

• garnished
• tarnished
• varnished
• untarnished

Kids Definition

unvarnished

adjective

un·​var·​nished ˌən-ˈvär-nisht 

ˈən-

1

: not adorned or exaggerated : plain

the unvarnished truth

2

: not varnished