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
Her emotional frankness has also translated into measurable commercial impact.
—
Amy Francombe, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2026
The cast rises to the challenge of Churchill’s rapid-fire, often overlapping dialogue, with comedic highlights including Pope Joan’s coarse frankness and Dull Gret’s unexpected interjections.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
The future king addressed his personal introspective journey with frankness and awareness, an openness unusual for the royal family, which is traditionally reserved on many topics including difficult emotions and mental health.
—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
But despite its frankness, the show is more interested in ambition than in sexuality or gender relations.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Amy Francombe, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2026
The cast rises to the challenge of Churchill’s rapid-fire, often overlapping dialogue, with comedic highlights including Pope Joan’s coarse frankness and Dull Gret’s unexpected interjections.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
The future king addressed his personal introspective journey with frankness and awareness, an openness unusual for the royal family, which is traditionally reserved on many topics including difficult emotions and mental health.
—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
But despite its frankness, the show is more interested in ambition than in sexuality or gender relations.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frankness
Noun
-
Eric Church built his career on raw honesty in his music.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
-
What emerges is not just a portrait of a crisis, but also of quiet hope found in connection, in honesty, and in the courage to keep calling.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Played with ample sincerity by Jack Quaid, Richie seems like a good dude in a bad situation.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
These forces—economic uncertainty, political division, and toxic algorithms—work in a vicious cycle to try and tell us that empathy is weakness… that kindness is gullibility… that sincerity is for suckers.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But a triptych of photographs that were released last month, showing Andrew apparently on the floor of Epstein’s New York town house, have a terrible directness.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Known for his candor, Foran once famously told reporters that most of Walmart’s stores were not up to standard, breaking with a company culture that didn’t prize such directness.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Both quarterbacks revisited that period with apparent bluntness.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
She’s built a career on candid takes about relationships, work and the absurdities of everyday life, delivered with her trademark mix of bluntness and charm.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
The candor of early Real Housewives seasons provides the kind of character complexity and interpersonal conflict seen in the best classical and modern literature, where scenes with a large number of characters interacting allow writers to flex their muscles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Strong responded with equal candor.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
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The title and author are set large in a text weight of Didot, echoing the candidness of the photo and the material.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frankness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frankness. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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