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
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Recent Examples of openness
The two countries did made tentative overtures in the late 1990s, when Iranians were electing politicians on promises of greater personal freedom and openness.
—
Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Travelers of color also share positive experiences, highlighting the cultural diversity and openness found in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
That openness — to other versions of himself — runs through his work.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
More Wall Space Open-concept kitchens inherently have less wall space, and that usually means sacrificing some functionality to achieve the openness.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Welch has signaled openness to tweaks, though specifics remain unclear.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
After the Dolphins’ 7-10 season came to an end, Tagovailoa expressed an openness to a fresh start elsewhere.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched for the final games of the season, expressed openness to moving onto another team in search of a fresh start in season-ending interviews this week.
—Frank Nunns Oconnell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
The openness between the kitchen and dining area is super functional, but Loesing didn’t want to knock down any more walls in this space.
—Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Travelers of color also share positive experiences, highlighting the cultural diversity and openness found in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
That openness — to other versions of himself — runs through his work.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
More Wall Space Open-concept kitchens inherently have less wall space, and that usually means sacrificing some functionality to achieve the openness.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Welch has signaled openness to tweaks, though specifics remain unclear.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
After the Dolphins’ 7-10 season came to an end, Tagovailoa expressed an openness to a fresh start elsewhere.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched for the final games of the season, expressed openness to moving onto another team in search of a fresh start in season-ending interviews this week.
—Frank Nunns Oconnell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
The openness between the kitchen and dining area is super functional, but Loesing didn’t want to knock down any more walls in this space.
—Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openness
Noun
-
Whatever his contemporaries thought of Melville’s prose, at least his coworkers respected his dedication and honesty, the later a rare commodity in government work during the late nineteenth-century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The first stop was Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum, where the country’s painful past is preserved with unflinching honesty.—
Lindsey Granger,
The Hill,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That earlier dependence became a vulnerability when China restricted exports following a maritime dispute in the East China Sea.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
-
This leads to researcher Brene Brown, professor at the University of Houston, who writes on the subject of values and vulnerability.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Know that conversations deserve deep sincerity.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Part of what comes to me, Roxana, is my sincerity and my earnestness.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Keep leaves dust-free and windows clean to increase light exposure.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Low, consistent exposure to fluoride is widely credited for dramatic declines in decaying teeth.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off those comments as an example of the president’s frankness.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Their frankness and loyalty are also notable when the call is in.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While not perfect, Johnson was involved in many of Palace’s best attacking moments and brought directness and purpose, qualities that have been lacking in their game since Ismaila Sarr left just before Christmas to play for Senegal in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Learn to handle directness without getting defensive.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
WalletHub has studied deferred interest since 2012, periodically flagging retailers that offer the loans and rating their financing offers on transparency and forthrightness.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
28 Nov. 2025
-
Monique’s penchant for forthrightness, almost to the point of abruptness, is what makes her reintegration to the cast fascinating already.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Openness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openness. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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