1
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner
you'll have to tell your relatives very plainly that you don't like perfume, or they'll keep giving it to you
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in certainly
without any question
your wife is plainly upset that you didn't invite her to the game with us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plainly
The solutions widely on offer are plainly inadequate.
—
Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
But a federal judge threw out the lawsuit in March 2024, excoriating the platform’s case as plainly punitive rather than about protecting the platform’s security and legal rights.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Stein’s early fiction was plainly written and unremarkable.
—Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
In the trailer, Morgan (Justine Lupe) puts it plainly for her and Joanne's podcast listeners.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Never mind that the Constitution very plainly says Congressional districts are to be drawn once every 10 years, just after the Census, and intended to last the full 10 years.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
This fight was mostly terrible, to put it plainly.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
And Republicans are plainly worried about losing the chamber.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
This is psychoanalysis, plainly, and there is no escaping the mediation of the psyche.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
But a federal judge threw out the lawsuit in March 2024, excoriating the platform’s case as plainly punitive rather than about protecting the platform’s security and legal rights.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Stein’s early fiction was plainly written and unremarkable.
—Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
In the trailer, Morgan (Justine Lupe) puts it plainly for her and Joanne's podcast listeners.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Never mind that the Constitution very plainly says Congressional districts are to be drawn once every 10 years, just after the Census, and intended to last the full 10 years.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
This fight was mostly terrible, to put it plainly.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
And Republicans are plainly worried about losing the chamber.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
This is psychoanalysis, plainly, and there is no escaping the mediation of the psyche.
—Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainly
Adverb
-
In the series, the Academy Award-winning director and his older daughters openly discuss how Martin was not always the most present parent during the earlier parts of his career in the 1970s.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
While doing a press tour amid the release of her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, Swift has openly discussed her engagement to the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and offered details on her engagement ring that has caught attention for its sizable diamond.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
While that’s certainly true, many moviegoers don’t seem to be connecting with Smashing Machine thus far, based on the worrisome B- CinemaScore (for an adult drama, that’s like receiving a C).—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Oct. 2025
-
In many small Southern towns, and some cities too, that certainly applies to the local hot dog shop.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Wole returned his gaze, equally sincerely, but Sylvester jumped between them, grabbing Wole’s hand as their father let go.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
In criticizing how some Republicans reacted to Charlie Kirk's death, Jimmy Kimmel alleged that conservatives were using Kirk's assassination for political advantage rather than mourning the conservative activist sincerely.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The hardworking forward will surely be heard from in Vancouver at some point this season.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Still, that history is surely not like ours.—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Forsaking the standard one-and-done episode anthology format, AHS proved that audiences would stick around for the long run, even if the plotlines got gorier, weirder, and sometimes just plain worse.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Journalists threw him all of the usual life rings after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat against Brighton — a lack of experience, damaging injuries, just plain bad luck.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
And Virginia Beach is definitely at the top of the list for fall weekend getaways.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The universe definitely sent you that sweet baby.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens are easier to clean straightforwardly with dish soap and warm water than their uncoated counterparts.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Notwithstanding its elaborately disordered presentation, the film’s more straightforwardly biographical material contains few surprises.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
But the outlets – with drive-thru lanes and walk-up windows – clearly have a following.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Maddie—baggy hoodies tossed over an array of old tattoos, clearly carrying a heavy amount of life for her 28 years—gradually attempts to fill her daughter in on her own youth, treading a tightrope between honesty and delicacy.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainly. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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