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
Delivered to a high standard by Thales’s international team, in close collaboration with industry partners, this achievement showcases the quality, openness, and technical expertise that have defined Thales’s approach to the Type 31 delivery – earning praise from the Royal Navy.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
The leaders who respond with openness, patience, and curiosity will build teams that value human connection.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Counterprotesters rejected the union's openness to inviting the National Guard to Milwaukee.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Josh tends to appear via video link and those who have attended the meetings have remarked about his openness to listen to what is being said, while also noting that post-ESL, there has been more of an effort by the club and senior executives to engage with supporters.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Part of what people have told me works about it is that there’s such a vulnerability and openness to it.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Indoor-outdoor layouts defined by openness, functionality, and an abundance of wood are core tenets of the style.
—Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Getty Images In the study, researchers crafted job adverts that called for a candidate high in one of six personality factors including honesty-humility, emotionality, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
But that brief period of openness and luxury ended quickly, with international sanctions clamping back down in 2003.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
The leaders who respond with openness, patience, and curiosity will build teams that value human connection.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Counterprotesters rejected the union's openness to inviting the National Guard to Milwaukee.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Josh tends to appear via video link and those who have attended the meetings have remarked about his openness to listen to what is being said, while also noting that post-ESL, there has been more of an effort by the club and senior executives to engage with supporters.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Part of what people have told me works about it is that there’s such a vulnerability and openness to it.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Indoor-outdoor layouts defined by openness, functionality, and an abundance of wood are core tenets of the style.
—Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Getty Images In the study, researchers crafted job adverts that called for a candidate high in one of six personality factors including honesty-humility, emotionality, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
But that brief period of openness and luxury ended quickly, with international sanctions clamping back down in 2003.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openness
Noun
-
This honesty, paired with a focus on the fundamentals, helped his students achieve realistic, incremental progress.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Somewhere in your honesty, someone else will find their courage—and that, more than any strategy or speech, is what transforms organizations.—
Marie Quintana,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In response, both Ukrainian and Russian tanks have undergone transformations to address their vulnerabilities.—
Marco Hernandez,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This presents another opportunity to hack and disable or repurpose, instantly turning an asset into a vulnerability.—
Brian Walsh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gibson’s book delves into her struggles with finances and health, as well as her complicated relationship with Diane, who died in 2022, with clear-eyed sincerity.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The specifics matter less than the sincerity.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Humans could be easily killed by radiation exposure, and the lack of atmospheric pressure on Mars or in orbit would cause a person’s blood to boil if they were exposed.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Rather than going all-in on AI literacy, the question is to calibrate deliberate exposure to mental challenges that build resistance to intellectual dependency.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Meursault acquiesces but with a casually brutal frankness as to his motives, which have nothing to do with love.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Hilarious yet heartfelt, Mom offers a refreshing frankness not often seen in today's sitcoms.—
Tanya Melendez,
EW.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Malen has the pace and directness but tends to make runs inside rather than be a wide outlet.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That directness empowers both parents and students to make sound choices.—
Joyce Marter,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For parents, the name of the game is forthrightness.—
Nona Han,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Openness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openness. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share