as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
I valued her forthrightness in telling me she didn't like being called "Susie"
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Recent Examples of forthrightness
There’s something both startling and seductive about such forthrightness.
—
Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
To say we are disappointed by the lack of urgency and forthrightness from the city attorney’s office is an understatement.
—City News Service, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Fortune spoke with six people who have invested in Anthropic to get a sense of how this key constituency is feeling about the situation, and found that opinions were not unified despite the company’s longstanding forthrightness about its values.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026
WalletHub has studied deferred interest since 2012, periodically flagging retailers that offer the loans and rating their financing offers on transparency and forthrightness.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
Monique’s penchant for forthrightness, almost to the point of abruptness, is what makes her reintegration to the cast fascinating already.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
For parents, the name of the game is forthrightness.
—Nona Han, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
The elections have vindicated Move Forward’s forthrightness, confirming that citizens want a national conversation about the monarchy.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 25 May 2023
Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
To say we are disappointed by the lack of urgency and forthrightness from the city attorney’s office is an understatement.
—City News Service, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Fortune spoke with six people who have invested in Anthropic to get a sense of how this key constituency is feeling about the situation, and found that opinions were not unified despite the company’s longstanding forthrightness about its values.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026
WalletHub has studied deferred interest since 2012, periodically flagging retailers that offer the loans and rating their financing offers on transparency and forthrightness.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
Monique’s penchant for forthrightness, almost to the point of abruptness, is what makes her reintegration to the cast fascinating already.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
For parents, the name of the game is forthrightness.
—Nona Han, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
The elections have vindicated Move Forward’s forthrightness, confirming that citizens want a national conversation about the monarchy.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 25 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forthrightness
Noun
-
The organization has guided enough candidates through multiple cycles to approach these situations with both honesty and genuine optimism, identifying specifically what needs to change and executing adjustments with the same rigor applied to initial preparation.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Thomas Tuchel’s explanation for not taking Cole Palmer to the World Cup was brutal in its honesty.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
What is necessary for a successful religious accommodation request is sincerity, Paul told USA TODAY.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
While many fans have questioned the sincerity of the effort that A’s owner John Fisher and MLB made to keep the A’s in Oakland, MLB officials also grew frustrated by the process.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Seydoux asks me in a moment of frankness.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In contrast to this ribald directness, Kokopeli’s playsets feature characters who appear detached and disconnected.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
In most workplaces, uncertainty drains more energy than directness.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Slot, as head coach, was more of a middle manager; someone who acted with the objectivity of a civil servant and the occasional bluntness of a corrections officer.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
-
Rise and fall But Healy, with her characteristic bluntness, didn’t sugar-coat what happened to that law.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Mary Gaitskill is particularly good at this ideal combination of straightforwardness and pithiness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
None of his previous attempts at candor have garnered the same public response as the intimacy – and immediacy – of his online posts.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
-
Nessel discussed political realities with a candor rare among public officials.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
His outspokenness has spurred discourse among country music's Republican-leaning audience.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The actor recently reflected on his political outspokenness in an interview with Vanity Fair.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forthrightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forthrightness. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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