matter-of-factly

adverb

as in candidly

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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 matter-of-factly Elliott matter-of-factly told the story about his name, as well the later discovery through 23andMe of his biological father’s likely identity and the confirmed existence of many half siblings, just by pushing a button. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026 The late George is still widely hailed as having been Little Feat’s most visionary member and Payne matter-of-factly refers to him as both a mentor and a genius. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 The tech is terrifying, but it’s treated matter-of-factly, played for barked laughs. — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 12 June 2026 This is presented upsettingly matter-of-factly — sudden, and just out of frame. — Blake Simons, IndieWire, 18 May 2026 Jason Collins had written it so matter-of-factly. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 13 May 2026 My mother reported her friends’ upheavals to me matter-of-factly. — Jennifer Acker, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026 Victims' families packed the courtroom, weeping as Heuermann matter-of-factly answered each of the prosecutor's questions. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026 When Frank asked him why a saint would visit a short, chubby guy with glasses who played goalie, Gus said very matter-of-factly that it was well known that ordinary folks and the poor often received such visions. — David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matter-of-factly
  1. candidly
  2. frankly
  3. openly
  4. nonchalantly
  5. casually
  6. coolly
Adverb
  • In recent years, Orbit spoke candidly about overcoming substance abuse and a psychotic episode that interrupted his career before returning to music.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Angelina Jolie‘s brother spoke candidly about his sexuality on Breathe Mija, the Substack from his ex-wife Romi Imbelli, on Thursday.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of candidly
Adverb
  • One root of these problems, Fersko-Weiss believed, was an inability to communicate frankly about what death and dying entailed.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Over 100 landowners have denied power company surveyors access to their property, again demonstrating Maryland’s tenacity against harmful development which, frankly, no one asked for.
    — Adrianne Fantasia, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of frankly
Adverb
  • Wednesday’s hierarchy openly predicted bumps in the road and one of them was felt on August 1, a week before the first competitive game of the new season.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia and Turkey — two nations that have been openly hostile toward one another for much of the last decade — pledged to go to war in each other’s defense.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • William Saliba — France/Arsenal (position unchanged) Gave up almost nothing to his Arsenal team-mate Gyokeres as France nonchalantly dismissed Sweden, dominating in the air and on the floor while distributing the ball sensibly.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • And then, right as Joe’s already prevalent rage is on the precipice of going nuclear, a CGI giraffe nonchalantly strolls past a third-story window in the background.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of nonchalantly
Adverb
  • The offseason especially has turned into showcase opportunities for players across social media and beyond, either casually or in tournament form.
    — Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Surveillance footage obtained by CBS News Miami appears to show the three female suspects enter the store on Wednesday to casually look at clothes.
    — Ted Scouten, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of casually
Adverb
  • But, when Ukrainian negotiators push for more detainees, their Russian counterparts tend to respond coolly.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • After controlling the ball twice with his head, Bouanga sprinted into the box and coolly lifted it over goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland and into the net.
    — Josh Gross, Daily News, 26 July 2026
Definition of coolly

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Matter-of-factly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matter-of-factly. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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