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
Victoria Paris, who has amassed 2 million TikTok followers, has openly shared her strategy of posting 10-plus videos daily to boost her visibility and grow her audience.
—
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2025
Rather than bottling them up or dismissing them, she’s made a conscious effort to speak openly about the struggle.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Her daughter’s doctor (Bronstein) is openly antagonistic and makes noises about a change in care, whatever that means.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Gay people could not openly serve in the military until Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed in 2011.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Most states will send notices laying out the cost of coverage without federal subsidies, and lawmakers on both sides openly admit the shutdown could extend for weeks.
—Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Speak openly with intimate partners and your healthcare provider.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
She is outwardly spoken against transgender rights and has ranted several times about Representative Sarah McBride, an openly transgender member of Congress, and her pronouns.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Some Western observers have seized on reports that certain clans and groups, like the Doghmush and the Shabab, are openly cooperating with Israeli forces, interpreting this as a rejection of Hamas's extremism.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2025
Rather than bottling them up or dismissing them, she’s made a conscious effort to speak openly about the struggle.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Her daughter’s doctor (Bronstein) is openly antagonistic and makes noises about a change in care, whatever that means.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Gay people could not openly serve in the military until Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed in 2011.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Most states will send notices laying out the cost of coverage without federal subsidies, and lawmakers on both sides openly admit the shutdown could extend for weeks.
—Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Speak openly with intimate partners and your healthcare provider.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
She is outwardly spoken against transgender rights and has ranted several times about Representative Sarah McBride, an openly transgender member of Congress, and her pronouns.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Some Western observers have seized on reports that certain clans and groups, like the Doghmush and the Shabab, are openly cooperating with Israeli forces, interpreting this as a rejection of Hamas's extremism.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openly
Adverb
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Photos of the rocker with his famous friends lined the walls, and a bartender freely poured Hagar’s Santo Tequila.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Gas prices are viewed as an important economic indicator, although lower prices don’t guarantee a booming economy, and recent news and data points are showing an economy in which wealthy Americans appear to be spending freely, while poorer households seem to be pulling back.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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My parents’ house is sincerely stunning; my mom designed the whole thing.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
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Gee previously rejected many of Dunbar’s other legal claims, but left it up to a jury to decide whether his religious beliefs are sincerely held.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Openly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openly. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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