CANDIDLY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

candidly

adverb

Definition of candidly

as in openly

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of candidly In recent years, Orbit spoke candidly about overcoming substance abuse and a psychotic episode that interrupted his career before returning to music. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026 Angelina Jolie‘s brother spoke candidly about his sexuality on Breathe Mija, the Substack from his ex-wife Romi Imbelli, on Thursday. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 And, no, there candidly are not many shooters left of Klay Thompson’s potential value to this roster. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 While some social media users criticized Ratajkowski as being out of touch with the realities facing many single mothers, others praised her for candidly discussing divorce, dating and motherhood. — Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Osbourne spoke candidly about parenting, without naming Wilson, in her series of posts. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 The advantage might go to the side that can face its problems most candidly. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 This snapshot is based on information from team and league sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss the state of an evolving market. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 In her second memoir, Priscilla also candidly discussed their 10-year age gap. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidly

Adverb

Most telling is how openly Stassi disdains the idea of therapy, even insisting to the horror of pretty much everyone else onscreen that forcing hard conversations on reality TV is her therapy.

— Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
The honest move is to redesign the coordination function openly.

— Pallavi Mahajan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of openly

Adverb

One of the strongest films of the year — in years, honestly — stars 2026 MVP Sandra Hüller as a 17th-century German soldier who’s survived a bullet to the face and disfigurement around the end of the Thirty Years War.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Utilize self-assessments to highlight contributions with concrete details and honestly address growth areas, demonstrating self-awareness.

— Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of honestly

Adverb

One root of these problems, Fersko-Weiss believed, was an inability to communicate frankly about what death and dying entailed.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Over 100 landowners have denied power company surveyors access to their property, again demonstrating Maryland’s tenacity against harmful development which, frankly, no one asked for.

— Adrianne Fantasia, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of frankly

Adverb

Foley has been the one board member who has forthrightly stood up for oversight and accountability on every key issue.

— The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Coming off the ice, Malinin forthrightly congratulated the winner, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, as if to communicate that Shaidorov won the prize from his own efforts, not from Malinin’s failure.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Definition of forthrightly

Adverb

Evil Dead Burn isn’t as baldly hateful toward women as the hypersuccessful, low budget Obsession.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Pinney’s fantasies and visual metaphors are sometimes more poignant in concept than in execution, and a theme of Ray’s crude racist impulses is baldly inserted but left undeveloped.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

Definition of baldly

Adverb

Not the layoffs, the mergers, the rampant unemployment, and the fear that comes with it — all of that and more unreservedly sucks.

— Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of unreservedly

Adverb

In her final Facebook post, Josée straightforwardly leaves a link to the time and place of her funeral.

— Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026
Reilly, who composed the song wholesale, seems content to swap his Satie-esque irresolution for something straightforwardly plaintive, like a lullaby.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026

Definition of straightforwardly

Adverb

There is a useful counterpoint worth naming plainly here too.

— Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
The Legislature should say plainly that a building’s shape cannot be a separate environmental harm once its use and density have already passed full review.

— Zack Defazio Farrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026

Definition of plainly

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“Candidly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidly. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of candidly

adverb

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