1
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
her openness was refreshing after the tiresome coyness of her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vulnerability
the state of being left without shelter or protection against something harmful
doctors are concerned about the population's openness to the new strain of the flu virus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 openness
That balance, between openness and enclosure, runs through the entire project.
—
Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
While President Claudia Sheinbaum has signaled renewed openness to private investment, including partnerships in electricity and a possible revival of fracking, her administration’s statism continues to weigh on Mexico’s appeal relative to regional peers.
—Juan Pablo Spinetto, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Furniture helps define smaller zones within the openness, while a double-sided fireplace anchors the room.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering,’’ the Biennale said.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
That same openness also creates vulnerability when external shocks hit.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Director Matt Pfeiffer tries not to tie it too strongly to an extreme light or dark mood but does keep up a snappy pace, plays most of the angriest outbursts for laughs and takes good advantage of the openness of the Playhouse on Park stage area.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
When Vacheron Constantin launched the Overseas collection three decades ago, the models embodied the more than 270-year-old maison’s conception of an elegant traveling chronograph — rooted in the spirit of exploration and openness to the world.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2026
There was this openness to adventure and to the outside.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
While President Claudia Sheinbaum has signaled renewed openness to private investment, including partnerships in electricity and a possible revival of fracking, her administration’s statism continues to weigh on Mexico’s appeal relative to regional peers.
—Juan Pablo Spinetto, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Furniture helps define smaller zones within the openness, while a double-sided fireplace anchors the room.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering,’’ the Biennale said.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
That same openness also creates vulnerability when external shocks hit.
—Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Director Matt Pfeiffer tries not to tie it too strongly to an extreme light or dark mood but does keep up a snappy pace, plays most of the angriest outbursts for laughs and takes good advantage of the openness of the Playhouse on Park stage area.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
When Vacheron Constantin launched the Overseas collection three decades ago, the models embodied the more than 270-year-old maison’s conception of an elegant traveling chronograph — rooted in the spirit of exploration and openness to the world.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2026
There was this openness to adventure and to the outside.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openness
Noun
-
That naturally raised questions, not about whether the laws of time and space had been upended but about the efficacy, and honesty, of the billing systems being used by the firms, the city or both.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But even though abusive relationships tend to form tragic patterns, honesty isn’t all that’s necessary for a good narrative, and this one proves repetitive.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As Michael, Jaafar Jackson’s speaking voice is expressive, and his presence blends strength and fragility, power and vulnerability, even if, in dramatic scenes, the character is granted too little substance for there to be a self to express.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Through candid moments of vulnerability and emotional truths, the film offers a heartfelt exploration of love and artistry that resonates deeply, delivering an uplifting portrayal of resilience in the face of hardship.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Floyd’s sincerity, the startling extremity of his concern for the comfort of others, snaps Clark out of his depressed, and depressing, complacency.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But as the left grows increasingly distrustful of big tech companies, progressives aren’t convinced of the moguls’ sincerity.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Inside the capsule, the team assessed the astronauts' condition following exposure to microgravity, radiation and the stresses of reentry, before assisting them onto a platform outside.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Airlines with stronger margin buffers, better fuel hedging, and lower direct operational exposure to the Middle East are among those expected to best weather the looming travel turmoil, Loredana Muharremi, equity analyst at Morningstar, wrote in a note on Wednesday.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Just as the story mines humor from the collision of old-fashioned ways with a modern frankness, Paul’s score combines the appeal of jaunty golden-age sounds with a freshness that feels present day.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This is the meeting of the messenger planet and the taskmaster, let alone in the zodiac’s most fearless sign, setting the stage for a transit that cuts right through the fluff, forcing truth and directness.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The plainspoken lyrics align with a broader embrace of sincerity, privileging emotional directness over irony.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To say we are disappointed by the lack of urgency and forthrightness from the city attorney’s office is an understatement.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Fortune spoke with six people who have invested in Anthropic to get a sense of how this key constituency is feeling about the situation, and found that opinions were not unified despite the company’s longstanding forthrightness about its values.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Openness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openness. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
