unvarnished
adjective
un·var·nished
ˌən-ˈvär-nisht 
1
a
: not adorned or glossed : plain, straightforward
told the unvarnished truth
2
: not coated with or as if with varnish : crude, unfinished
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
The make-or-break ingredient turns out to be British actor Will Poulter, whose immersive commitment dovetails beautifully with Meeks’ unvarnished sensibility.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2026
The class’s teacher, played by Julia Garner, faces suspicion (not to mention her own demons), and the remaining, unvarnished child isn’t providing answers.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
But as always, these writers-directors present an unvarnished look at life on the margins, following a group of adolescent mothers, some of them single.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Like the rest of Italy, so many answers can be found in the kitchen, and some of Sicily’s finest food can be bought roadside or in its energetic, unvarnished markets, where rituals as old as the mottled walls unfold.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
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Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2026
The class’s teacher, played by Julia Garner, faces suspicion (not to mention her own demons), and the remaining, unvarnished child isn’t providing answers.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
But as always, these writers-directors present an unvarnished look at life on the margins, following a group of adolescent mothers, some of them single.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Like the rest of Italy, so many answers can be found in the kitchen, and some of Sicily’s finest food can be bought roadside or in its energetic, unvarnished markets, where rituals as old as the mottled walls unfold.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unvarnished
Cite this Entry
“Unvarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unvarnished. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unvarnished
adjective
un·var·nished
ˌən-ˈvär-nisht
ˈən-
1
: not adorned or exaggerated : plain
the unvarnished truth
2
: not varnished
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