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.
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 openly
Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.
—
Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Together, those forces contribute to an increasingly tense environment in which women’s autonomy, LGBTQ rights, and the protection of minorities is not just openly contested, but actively undermined.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
The film follows a clown, consumed by a desperate need for validation, who accepts a private booking, expecting a children’s party — only to discover his audience is a group of millennials and Gen Z adults who openly mock his performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Jayne, Parks and Gorga spoke following an introduction by Tammy Baldwin, the first openly lesbian member of Congress.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Berkovich began writing openly anti-war poems on Facebook, where they were shared thousands of times.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
With the deal, the Pac-12 becomes one of just a handful of leagues to openly commercialize its gambling data.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Canadians are openly discussing the merits and risks of pursuing a nuclear weapon.
—Amy McAuliffe, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Ferguson speaks openly about struggling with depression and anxiety.
—Elisa Bocanegra, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
Together, those forces contribute to an increasingly tense environment in which women’s autonomy, LGBTQ rights, and the protection of minorities is not just openly contested, but actively undermined.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
The film follows a clown, consumed by a desperate need for validation, who accepts a private booking, expecting a children’s party — only to discover his audience is a group of millennials and Gen Z adults who openly mock his performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Jayne, Parks and Gorga spoke following an introduction by Tammy Baldwin, the first openly lesbian member of Congress.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Berkovich began writing openly anti-war poems on Facebook, where they were shared thousands of times.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
With the deal, the Pac-12 becomes one of just a handful of leagues to openly commercialize its gambling data.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Canadians are openly discussing the merits and risks of pursuing a nuclear weapon.
—Amy McAuliffe, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Ferguson speaks openly about struggling with depression and anxiety.
—Elisa Bocanegra, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openly
Adverb
-
Their structure allows liquids containing potential analytes to move freely through the gel while keeping bacteria trapped inside the material.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Gazelles roam freely near the refineries and depots that make Kharg one of Iran’s most valuable — and sensitive — assets.—
Sam Metz,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The 98th Academy Awards, which came at the end of what felt like a particularly never-ending cycle of discourse and prognostication, did a good job making plenty of room to celebrate both movies sincerely.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Openly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openly. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
