candidness

noun

Definition of candidnessnext
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions candidness is something that we claim to admire—except when we are on the receiving end of a brutally honest assessment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 candidness The reassuring finding, across the research represented in the room at the CIFAR workshop, is that candidness about uncertainty generally maintains or builds trust rather than erodes it. — Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 Lee told the Queen that her husband’s candidness has encouraged many to feel more comfortable with their own cancer journeys. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 19 Aug. 2026 In conversation, Friedland is rapaciously curious, if slightly disorganized, prone to tangents that lead to a candidness that can verge on cringe or awkward. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026 On May 29, Behar and her cohosts on The View reflected on recent comments from Rosie O'Donnell's about her facelift, praising her candidness. — Staff Author, InStyle, 29 May 2026 Some athletes early in this era proved that charisma and candidness coupled with their athletic skills could be highly lucrative. — Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026 The duo have become known for their candidness and light-hearted humor, frequently letting viewers in on the chaos of their real lives. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026 The title and author are set large in a text weight of Didot, echoing the candidness of the photo and the material. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025 Angela’s candidness on the season gave viewers a glimpse into her relationship with Charles, including the aftermath of the 2017 incident at Madison Square Garden and accusations of infidelity. — MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidness
  1. honesty
  2. sincerity
  3. frankness
  4. candor
  5. forthrightness
  6. directness
  7. bluntness
Noun
  • In a world that rewards keeping appearances, Space Afrika makes conveying honesty and vulnerability look easy.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But when customers already know something went wrong, an apology can signal warmth and honesty.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Still, the sincerity matters, and so does the achievement of realizing something this strange with such conviction.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
  • After many fans online questioned the sincerity of Art of Play’s statement, Clarkson herself stepped back into the fray.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • The novel, published in 1988, foreshadowed the career to come by taking on, with disarming frankness, everything from child abuse to transracial adoption.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Horgan, whose Catastrophe charted the ups and downs of a relationship with painful, hilarious honesty, applies the same frankness to the minor indignities of midlife.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of frankness
Noun
  • Her writing carries a distinctly evolved candor, which is saying something for someone as willfully exposed as Chinouriri.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For all of Vollmann’s willingness to explore, his candor has limits.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of candor
Noun
  • Alvarado has had to address that in the wake of the film’s release, and perhaps that forthrightness has aided the box office.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • Your forthrightness will set the tone for future dates.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 6 June 2026
Definition of forthrightness
Noun
  • Savio The Brazilian is still finding his feet but already feels like an important player, offering pace, directness and a willingness to take on his man — qualities lacking in many of his team-mates.
    — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Paul, meanwhile, was in a period of uncharacteristic autobiographical directness in his lyric-writing, documenting his grievances with his actor girlfriend Jane Asher while residing in her family’s London home.
    — Darryn King, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of directness
Noun
  • Casting Bill Burr — the stand-up, who in recent years has repeatedly gone viral for speaking hard truths right to people’s face with all the bluntness of his blue-collar Boston roots — was a whole other layer of wish fulfillment for Sorkin.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Still, everyone onstage seemed amused and accustomed to Lange’s bluntness.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of bluntness

Browse Nearby Words

candidly
candidness
candied
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Cite this Entry

“Candidness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidness. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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