as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
his directness is much appreciated by his patients
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directness
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
The city inspired his sense of directness on the album.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
What stands out aren’t the gags themselves but the sheer directness with which the episode goes after Trump.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
So, a kind directness is going to be your best friend here.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directness
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
The city inspired his sense of directness on the album.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
What stands out aren’t the gags themselves but the sheer directness with which the episode goes after Trump.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
So, a kind directness is going to be your best friend here.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directness
Noun
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This honesty, paired with a focus on the fundamentals, helped his students achieve realistic, incremental progress.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Somewhere in your honesty, someone else will find their courage—and that, more than any strategy or speech, is what transforms organizations.—
Marie Quintana,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Gibson’s book delves into her struggles with finances and health, as well as her complicated relationship with Diane, who died in 2022, with clear-eyed sincerity.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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The specifics matter less than the sincerity.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meursault acquiesces but with a casually brutal frankness as to his motives, which have nothing to do with love.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
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Hilarious yet heartfelt, Mom offers a refreshing frankness not often seen in today's sitcoms.—
Tanya Melendez,
EW.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Of course, the only thing unique about Cluely’s sales pitch is its bluntness; plenty of other AI companies have been selling the same thing using more polite and socially acceptable language for years.—
Bryce Hoffman,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Her negotiation style is disarming bluntness.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For parents, the name of the game is forthrightness.—
Nona Han,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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What stands out from these examples, and from many other cases, is the candor with which everyone spoke about their health crises, their treatment and their comebacks.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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Michèle comes across as a singular and powerful personality, with something of Akerman’s own trenchant intellect, assertive candor, and vulnerable self-revelation.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directness. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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