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forthrightly

adverb

as in openly
in an honest and direct manner the police commissioner forthrightly and unhesitatingly admitted his mistake

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forthrightly
  1. openly
  2. sincerely
  3. honestly
  4. straightforward
  5. straightforwardly
  6. plainly
  7. abruptly
Adverb
  • Adverse possession generally requires someone to occupy property openly for a period set by state law while meeting other specific requirements.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Myanmar citizens living abroad are less likely to be openly critical on social media or attend fundraisers and demonstrations that could be monitored out of fear of having future passport renewals rejected.
    — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • Press notes from Particle6 encourage reporters to engage sincerely with Norwood and maintain there is no script or pre-written answers.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Most of these programs are offered through wholesale channels rather than the retail bank on the corner, which is why the loan officer at a national depository may sincerely believe no such option exists.
    — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sincerely
Adverb
  • Perez’s mom has been incredibly touched and honestly overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • So honestly, a lot of the worst parts of that song were probably her idea.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of honestly
Adverb
  • Through a layered and deeply nuanced performance, Cardellini transforms what could have been a straightforward femme fatale into a fiercely compelling protagonist.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • The mix’s seasoning veers straightforward and notably doesn’t list horseradish.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of straightforward
Adverb
  • While the use of AI in the filmmaking process remains a delicate topic in Hollywood, Wall Street has a more straightforwardly Darwinian view.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In her final Facebook post, Josée straightforwardly leaves a link to the time and place of her funeral.
    — Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of straightforwardly
Adverb
  • Put plainly, Birdbuddy is no longer running ahead of the pack.
    — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Illustration by Cristina Spanò The fact of declining birth rates, in societies of all types around the world, is plainly established.
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of plainly
Adverb
  • Turning, however, needed to be done in 90-degree increments, which created some potentially confusing graphics as entire scenes abruptly appeared.
    — Mark J. P. Wolf, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
  • They were hired by a nimble tech vendor with a flat hierarchy, and now they are being abruptly absorbed into a massive, heavily matrixed corporate bureaucracy.
    — Thanh Pham, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of abruptly

Browse Nearby Words

forthright
forthrightly
forthrightness
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Cite this Entry

“Forthrightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forthrightly. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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