directness

noun

də-ˈrek(t)-nəs How to pronounce directness (audio)
Definition of directnessnext
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions his directness is much appreciated by his patients

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 directness Rather than writing traditional Broadway show tunes, Sheik and Sater created a rock score that drew on the emotional directness of alternative music. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026 Marius, approaching 50, is a big doctor in this provincial city, not just a surgeon but the director of the hospital, and a man who prides himself on his directness and honesty. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026 The songwriting of the era became another source of inspiration, particularly its directness and simplicity. — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Advertisement In recent years, Warwick has also become beloved by younger generations for the directness that has defined her public persona. — Debbie Millman, Time, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for directness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directness
  1. honesty
  2. sincerity
  3. frankness
  4. bluntness
  5. forthrightness
  6. straightforwardness
  7. candor
Noun
  • Listen to their thoughts, then speak with hope, honesty and kindness.
    — Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The genre will continue to preserve the emotional honesty of its lyrics, which have traditionally focused on love.
    — Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • The show sought to expand norms of representation—a project whose sincerity all but courts the cringeworthy—with artists hell-bent on deconstructing the drive for beauty, including Orlan, Sara Cwynar, Juno Calypso, and Haley Morris-Cafiero.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the sincerity matters, and so does the achievement of realizing something this strange with such conviction.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Lin is known in town to be incredibly fair, but at times obtuse in his frankness.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of frankness
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
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
  • Their impressiveness came from their straightforwardness, their precision and generosity of flavor, without needless curlicues or misguided deconstruction.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • What is genuinely remarkable, though, is that this meteoric machine drives with the straightforwardness of a Toyota Camry.
    — Sean Evans, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of straightforwardness
Noun
  • Moshier has established a leadership development company and says his years with Murphy help him in the workplace as far as valuing candor and knowing when to have tough conversations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • As Margaret, Breathnach provides unfiltered, childlike candor with a sense of humor to boot.
    — Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of candor

Browse Nearby Words

direct mails
directness
director
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Cite this Entry

“Directness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directness. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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