as in openly
in an honest and direct manner
the police commissioner forthrightly and unhesitatingly admitted his mistake
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Recent Examples of forthrightly
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
The appeals on stage spoke forthrightly about God, usually in explicitly Christian terms.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
This absolute confidentiality helps give penitents the confidence to approach confession forthrightly, without holding back.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
His exile, rather than marginalizing him, gave him the rare platform from which to speak forthrightly.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
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
The appeals on stage spoke forthrightly about God, usually in explicitly Christian terms.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
This absolute confidentiality helps give penitents the confidence to approach confession forthrightly, without holding back.
—Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025
His exile, rather than marginalizing him, gave him the rare platform from which to speak forthrightly.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forthrightly
Adverb
-
Some hard-liners have openly criticized the regime for agreeing to a ceasefire, saying that the United States cannot be trusted.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But above all – with inflation and gas prices on the rise, and the MAGA base openly in revolt – Trump urgently needs a deal.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Still, the energy around physical media continues to surge in sincerely exciting new ways.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The risk of contaminating the aquifer is a long and sincerely held fear among critics like Leigh Ford, executive director of the Snake River Alliance, a nuclear watchdog.—
Mark Dee
April 13,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The space in Sioux Falls was formerly a DMV, which is honestly the most dramatic glow-up a building has ever experienced.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But those conversations need to happen honestly and as part of a larger plan — not one exception at a time.—
Mike Atchison,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The moment seemed straightforward: two leaders visiting an industrial complex, shaking hands, smiling for the camera and making a nondescript speech or two.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The market's logic seemed straightforward: more efficient AI means less demand for chips, less demand for data centers, less demand for power.—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Wyle sees the fandom response stemming from a desire for Robby to remain straightforwardly good, not a reflection of the show’s shifting priorities about which characters are emphasized or how they’re portrayed.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Superpowers rarely inflict such swift and straightforwardly embarrassing injury to themselves.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Put plainly, expanding 340B will lead to pricier plans, higher deductibles, and increased out-of-pocket payments.—
Katy Johnson,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Trump is just saying so plainly.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Two tankers carrying liquid petroleum gas (LPG) that were heading out of the Persian Gulf have abruptly turned round amidst Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Following the climactic portrayal of bombings in Iran and Gaza, the Strokes’ video montage ended with a shot of a bomber plane in the air, as the song abruptly ended.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forthrightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forthrightly. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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