as in freely
in a direct and honest way; without hiding feelings or opinions
Please feel free to express your opinions openly. The governor has been openly critical of the President.
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Recent Examples of openly
Last fall, former Chief Floyd Mitchell openly criticized the stringent nature of federal court oversight while resigning from the department after just a year and a half on the job, leaving the agency searching for a new leader for at least the 10th time since 2015.
—
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Saalt leaned heavily into tutorials, quizzes, blogs, TikTok Lives, and social storytelling to answer consumer questions openly and directly.
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Trump, who has openly toyed with running for an unconstitutional third term in 2028, is term-limited from running again.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 May 2026
In response, Chuck’s family courageously chose to share their story openly — and the Ace the Stigma Foundation was born.
—Ace The Stigma Foundation, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Johnson, who is White, is the first openly LGBT person to be elected to the House from the South, while Allred, who is Black, is a former NFL player and civil rights attorney.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026
In the months since Pratt launched his campaign, his run for mayor has become a Hollywood flashpoint, as celebrities rally behind the former reality star while others openly push back.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
One Tesla employee said the EV maker's workers have expected and even openly discussed the potential for a merger with SpaceX, which in February acquired Musk's xAI.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Saalt leaned heavily into tutorials, quizzes, blogs, TikTok Lives, and social storytelling to answer consumer questions openly and directly.
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Trump, who has openly toyed with running for an unconstitutional third term in 2028, is term-limited from running again.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 May 2026
In response, Chuck’s family courageously chose to share their story openly — and the Ace the Stigma Foundation was born.
—Ace The Stigma Foundation, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Johnson, who is White, is the first openly LGBT person to be elected to the House from the South, while Allred, who is Black, is a former NFL player and civil rights attorney.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026
In the months since Pratt launched his campaign, his run for mayor has become a Hollywood flashpoint, as celebrities rally behind the former reality star while others openly push back.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
One Tesla employee said the EV maker's workers have expected and even openly discussed the potential for a merger with SpaceX, which in February acquired Musk's xAI.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openly
Adverb
-
On their run to the final, PSG scored so freely — six against Bayern Munich, four against Liverpool, eight against Chelsea.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
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But until now, nobody had tested what these compounds do to fish living freely in a natural ecosystem.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Adverb
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Basically, no matter how soap-y the show gets, Akerman permits the audience to buy into and sincerely enjoy the Hunting Wives ridiculousness.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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Take a few extra moments to double-check your space, thank your host sincerely, and leave on a warm, unhurried note.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Openly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openly. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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