OPENNESS Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

openness

noun

Definition of openness

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

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 Al Marri suggested in her announcement that the new festival will not be in exactly the same vein as the original, which was known for its glitzy red carpets, industry events, and openness to films pushing the social and political envelope. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 Rubin is probably close enough to Carter to yield an interview with some openness, but too close to Carter to yield an interview that’s definitive — a limitation matched by or echoed in the limitations of the sparse visuals. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Managing that tension—remaining open enough to be credible and protectionist enough to maintain the domestic political support for that openness—is the defining challenge of European industrial policy. — Jonas Nahm, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026 By contrast, Xi grew up in a system that punished openness and personal dynamism. — Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026 Ultimately, Zhu says, the secret to Walmart China’s success is its openness to change. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026 The shift towards greater openness during Hopkinson’s first year deserves recognition. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Many have shown genuine curiosity and an openness to changing their ways. — Jessica Rosenblum, STAT, 8 Sep. 2026 After the talks in the Kremlin, Ushakov described the talks as constructive and carried out with the utmost openness and trust. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for openness

Noun

That honesty is what turns AI from an experiment into something the business can trust.

— Matt Waxman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Her raw honesty in West End Girl likely led to the album’s widespread positive reception, Allen said.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of honesty

Noun

She’s lured to her choice by Ricki, played by Lily James, a charismatic empowerment guru who sees Rita as a mark, and her hauntedness as a source of vulnerability.

— Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
San Diego’s commitment to playing out of the back has also created one of its biggest vulnerabilities.

— Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of vulnerability

Noun

Cox’s script, meanwhile, trades increasingly in one-size-fits-all therapy speak, and despite Qualley’s natural sincerity as a performer, Maya seems steadily less specific a personality as the years pass.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Like Warhol, Rouy makes work balancing on the razor’s edge between sincerity and cynicism.

— David Lê, Curbed, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sincerity

Noun

The team measured 13 rare earth elements, including cerium, ytterbium and lanthanum, and examined whether exposure was associated with birth outcomes.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
For the most part, garlic grows best if it’s planted about a week or two after the first killing frost in the fall, followed by exposure to several months of cool weather before the spring season starts.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of exposure

Noun

And the frankness underlying their oddly dorky connection also paints any potential relationship between them as tragic from the jump.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
Written with grimy, enlivening frankness — and an ability to dig into moral ambiguity — every character scrambles to get a leg up.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of frankness

Noun

Rather than writing traditional Broadway show tunes, Sheik and Sater created a rock score that drew on the emotional directness of alternative music.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026
Palace missed Sarr’s directness, with summer signing Dwight McNeil, Eddie Nketiah and Mateta not showing a full understanding.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of directness

Browse Nearby Words

open-mouthed

openness

opens

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“Openness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openness. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of openness

noun

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