as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
considering her reputation for frankness, I knew she would tell me what she really thought of my dress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 frankness
Just as the story mines humor from the collision of old-fashioned ways with a modern frankness, Paul’s score combines the appeal of jaunty golden-age sounds with a freshness that feels present day.
—
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 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
In the case of non-professionals, especially children, generosity should prevail over frankness.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Fulmer also delivers some comedic moments as Alycia, whose fast-talking frankness can be quite funny, albeit tone-deaf at times.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Her emotional frankness has also translated into measurable commercial impact.
—Amy Francombe, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2026
From a cultural perspective, William's frankness is a significant development.
—Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off those comments as an example of the president’s frankness.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Dec. 2025
Their frankness and loyalty are also notable when the call is in.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 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
In the case of non-professionals, especially children, generosity should prevail over frankness.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Fulmer also delivers some comedic moments as Alycia, whose fast-talking frankness can be quite funny, albeit tone-deaf at times.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Her emotional frankness has also translated into measurable commercial impact.
—Amy Francombe, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2026
From a cultural perspective, William's frankness is a significant development.
—Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off those comments as an example of the president’s frankness.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Dec. 2025
Their frankness and loyalty are also notable when the call is in.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frankness
Noun
-
According to the site’s founder, Marile Borden, this branding opportunity reflected a newfound honesty among women about the frazzling demands of motherhood.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
When families begin communicating more openly, younger generations learn that vulnerability and emotional honesty are not things to fear.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Love on the Spectrum — gentle, warm, built on sincerity rather than spectacle — represents an evolution within the genre.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
But what is most immediately striking about the film is its straightforward sincerity.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
In that video, her performance seemed oriented toward showcasing technical ability, overriding the song’s directness with display.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This is the meeting of the messenger planet and the taskmaster, let alone in the zodiac’s most fearless sign, setting the stage for a transit that cuts right through the fluff, forcing truth and directness.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the bluntness of the lyrics arrives just as quickly, undercutting the atmosphere by naming too plainly what the music had already begun to evoke with greater force.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
-
If someone tends to have more of a combative communication style, they might have been raised to see bluntness as just telling the truth.—
Nancy Pulciano,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
That the precise prose of this account, and numerous other anecdotes, is written with the kind of titanic certainty that would sway a jury is expected; what’s surprising, however, is Crenshaw’s candor in revealing her vulnerability and disappointments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Contemporary, timeless, and deeply intimate in its candor, Scenes From The Divide honored all viewpoints about Mamdani’s potential impact on the Jewish community by anchoring the title in a thoughtful, compassionate lead seeking understanding from voters.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Some athletes early in this era proved that charisma and candidness coupled with their athletic skills could be highly lucrative.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The duo have become known for their candidness and light-hearted humor, frequently letting viewers in on the chaos of their real lives.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frankness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frankness. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
