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 of unvarnished

• 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

His willingness to deliver unvarnished opinions, often sprinkled with sarcasm or humor, has been refreshing for Gator Nation after four seasons of Billy Napier’s measured — at times droning — delivery. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026

Jim offered his unvarnished takes on the stocks and spotlighted his four favorite names for new Club members to buy. —Kevin Stankiewicz,morgan Chittum, CNBC, 27 May 2026

Nevertheless, the unvarnished truth is the team with the league’s highest payroll quit on its own floor to end the season. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 26 May 2026

One half of me belonged to the unvarnished truth of the earth — a father and a climber, defined by the clean grit of granite and sandstone, and the weight of my son’s hand in mine. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026

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