matter-of-factly

adverb

as in candidly

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 As the misfits who make up Widow’s Bay react matter-of-factly to some of the creepy and strange goings-on around them, at the center of it all is Matthew Rhys as Mayor Tom Loftis. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matter-of-factly
  1. candidly
  2. frankly
  3. openly
  4. nonchalantly
  5. casually
  6. coolly
Adverb
  • In October, Parton spoke candidly in a video message that was released after her sister raised concerns by publicly asking fans to pray for the singer.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Players in the poll were granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive topics.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of candidly
Adverb
  • What about how police agencies understand criminality and risk can only be put on the table and frankly stated behind closed doors?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The last time Harry Brook batted in a Test for England his performance was so chaotic, frenetic and, frankly, irresponsible that New Zealand’s players laughed at him.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of frankly
Adverb
  • The Tate brothers, who openly describe themselves as misogynists, built a global following by promoting a lavish, hypermasculine lifestyle through their social media empire.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point reports that veteran foreign jihadists now openly call al-Sharaa a sellout.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • In the video, the popular streamers Maya Higa and FaZe Adapt sit together on a log, chatting nonchalantly as a massive grizzly bear lumbers toward them.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Couples stroll nonchalantly around the fountain, seemingly without a care in the world.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonchalantly
Adverb
  • Reichenbach said it’s been alarming to her to see how casually her neighbors treat measles.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Sexualizing black women and casually mocking working class women is not accepted anymore.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 28 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

matter-of-fact
matter-of-factly
matters
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Matter-of-factly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matter-of-factly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All