FRANKNESS Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

frankness

noun

Definition of frankness

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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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 And the frankness underlying their oddly dorky connection also paints any potential relationship between them as tragic from the jump. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 Written with grimy, enlivening frankness — and an ability to dig into moral ambiguity — every character scrambles to get a leg up. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 King walked into the room with impersonal frankness and sat on the bed beside me. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Gigot is not wrong that Druckenmiller’s frankness seems almost refreshing in a moment when so much of the writing world is stuck in denial. — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 As for the universality of her hypnotic, soulful sound and her dynamic, jazzy mezzo-soprano voice, Kidjo’s singing in five languages (Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen-Mina and English) has forever been key to the funk, its frankness and her grace. — A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 18 Aug. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frankness

Noun

That honesty is what turns AI from an experiment into something the business can trust.

— Matt Waxman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Her raw honesty in West End Girl likely led to the album’s widespread positive reception, Allen said.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of honesty

Noun

Cox’s script, meanwhile, trades increasingly in one-size-fits-all therapy speak, and despite Qualley’s natural sincerity as a performer, Maya seems steadily less specific a personality as the years pass.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Like Warhol, Rouy makes work balancing on the razor’s edge between sincerity and cynicism.

— David Lê, Curbed, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sincerity

Noun

Palace missed Sarr’s directness, with summer signing Dwight McNeil, Eddie Nketiah and Mateta not showing a full understanding.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Marius, approaching 50, is a big doctor in this provincial city, not just a surgeon but the director of the hospital, and a man who prides himself on his directness and honesty.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of directness

Noun

What Premier League clubs have shifted away from is — and apologies for the bluntness here — tolerating goalkeepers who aren’t good enough at saving shots.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
The Venezuela native never shied away from bluntness — and profanity — in assessing players, plays, games or whatever.

— CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of bluntness

Noun

The loudest alarms back then came from outsiders — misfit investors like Michael Burry and academics like Raghuram Rajan — who got plenty of grief for their candor.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
When a system can drop the fourth wall unprompted, ingest its own structural tells and re‑engage with unvarnished candor, the vulnerability shifts from deceptive compliance to authentic resonance.

— Terry Oroszi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of candor

Noun

The reassuring finding, across the research represented in the room at the CIFAR workshop, is that candidness about uncertainty generally maintains or builds trust rather than erodes it.

— Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Lee told the Queen that her husband’s candidness has encouraged many to feel more comfortable with their own cancer journeys.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of candidness

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frankly

frankness

franks

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“Frankness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frankness. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of frankness

noun

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