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
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Recent Examples of frankness
The recording of that release as depicted in the documentary is the balancing light to the overwhelming dark Osbourne experienced in his later years, a series of illnesses, hospitalizations, frustrations and ceaseless pain shown with unblinking frankness.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Collier, who was injured during the playoff series, read from a prepared statement that shocked everyone watching—if not for its contents, for its frankness.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Though Roan is a total force on stage, polished and magnetic while trouncing around a set made to look like an illustrated fairytale castle, the show is not without her signature frankness.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2025
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
Hilarious yet heartfelt, Mom offers a refreshing frankness not often seen in today's sitcoms.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
The audience of Samsung employees, customers, analysts, and media hung onto every word, and burst into laughter when his frankness skewered tech companies—including host Samsung.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Oct. 2018
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Collier, who was injured during the playoff series, read from a prepared statement that shocked everyone watching—if not for its contents, for its frankness.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Though Roan is a total force on stage, polished and magnetic while trouncing around a set made to look like an illustrated fairytale castle, the show is not without her signature frankness.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2025
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
Hilarious yet heartfelt, Mom offers a refreshing frankness not often seen in today's sitcoms.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
The audience of Samsung employees, customers, analysts, and media hung onto every word, and burst into laughter when his frankness skewered tech companies—including host Samsung.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Oct. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frankness
Noun
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The seven pillars of society—wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth—aren’t just words carved into sacred walls.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
That requires a lot of honesty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The film’s ever-so-slightly absurd sincerity is nothing if not brazen.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
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In the film’s version of events, the fate of the plane and everyone on it comes down to Nobody’s ability to manipulate the relative sincerity of Japan’s Deputy Minister Shinichi Ishida and Seo Go-myung.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Radha asked, with the directness of a doctor’s child.—
Sam Lipsyte,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Pace was central to everything good about Forest, who were set up to hit opposition with explosive speed and directness on the counter-attack through players such as Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In films like that, the cultural commentary comes more from metaphor than with the bluntness and directness of The Purge.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
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There’s been a bluntness all season to the Hermits’ chats that ordinarily might grate on me.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 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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For Bondi, the challenge now is restoring credibility with the judiciary and reaffirming the department’s duty of candor.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
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Her optimism and candor reached far beyond her social media.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Praised for her dry candidness and direct attitude online, Bethenny Frankel isn’t one to fall victim to a viral trend or product trap.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
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The world sees the behavior but rarely the illness behind it; this is what makes Gucci’s candidness about his journey so critical.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frankness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frankness. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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