plain 1 of 3

adjective

ˈplān How to pronounce plain (audio)
Definition of plainnext
1
as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment I like my hamburgers plain, with no ketchup or relish just give us the plain facts and none of your snide comments

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pure
free from added matter I'd prefer my pasta plain, not flavored with tomato or spinach or anything else

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions their piano teacher is honest and plain, if not always tactful

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in straightforward
going straight to the point clearly and firmly a plain report on the current situation

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5
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation let me make my meaning plain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plain

2 of 3

adverb

as in openly
in an honest and direct manner told her plain that he loved her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plain

3 of 3

noun

1
as in prairie
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country the first settlers in that area lived on the vast plains in lonely log cabins

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2
as in expanse
a wide space or area the vast plains of snow-covered earth that seemed to stretch endlessly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word plain distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of plain are candid, frank, and open. While all these words mean "showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks," plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression.

plain talk

When could candid be used to replace plain?

Although the words candid and plain have much in common, candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion.

a candid appraisal

When might frank be a better fit than plain?

In some situations, the words frank and plain are roughly equivalent. However, frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience.

frank discussions

How does the word open relate to other synonyms for plain?

Open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid.

open in saying what they think

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 plain
Adjective
Putting one’s children onscreen for public attention comes off as no mere metaphorical muddying of waters or crossing of lines but as a plain and simple abuse of power. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 If the plain look doesn’t appeal to you, the front plate of the glasses pops off, tinted lenses and all, and can be replaced by a variety of accessory plates that radically change the aesthetic. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026
Adverb
Yet the wilderness is just plain green, a meeting spot for people of all backgrounds and political views, from deer hunters to biologists, bass fishermen to poets. — Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 In some spots, the history is just plain wrong. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
Noun
Sitting outside at dusk, toasting s’mores on a small griddle fire while overlooking the desert plains was the perfect American road trip punctuation (particularly after a long, hot steam and sauna). — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026 The winery sits among vines on the ancient plain of Oia, which gives the visit a calmer feel than the crowd above it. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for plain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain
  1. simple
  2. pure
  3. outspoken
  4. straightforward
  5. obvious
  6. openly
  7. prairie
  8. expanse
Adjective
  • With the bulge-bracket firms the clear winners, choosing a VC has become simpler.
    — Robert Frank, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • The original historic rooms feature heavy drapery, regal-looking bed frames, and simple baths.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • The achievement shows how OpenAI and other AI firms are heavily investing in pure mathematics as a way to benchmark the technology’s ascent towards reasoning—and the strange directions those efforts often take.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 14 July 2026
  • There were new artists emerging who were sort of pure electronic artists like Kraftwerk and Gary Numan and so on.
    — Peter Larsen, Daily News, 14 July 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • After massive backlash from the community led by outspoken creators like Bordeaux, EA rolled back the concept.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • While the Dalai Lama has served as an outspoken advocate for democracy and human rights, that moral authority may now be co-opted by an authoritarian superpower.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of outspoken
Adjective
  • The appeal for Philadelphia, from a basketball standpoint, is straightforward and multi-pronged.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • But while both certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts continue to advertise attractive yields, deciding where to park that money isn't always a straightforward process.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of straightforward
Adjective
  • Spectrum is the most obvious example right now, and recent deals show how much buyers will pay to lock it up.
    — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • All are relatively obvious solutions that were just waiting for our leaders to have the drive to enact them.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
Definition of obvious
Adverb
  • However, the creator is fielding queries openly and the project has already surpassed it funding goal.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 July 2026
  • Huffman, who represents a sprawling slice of Northern California, reaching from the Bay Area to the Oregon border, is one of just four members (out of more than 500) who are openly agnostic or religiously unaffiliated.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of openly
Noun
  • The near-death experience forces her to confront her sense of isolation out in the prairie, where life is defined by subsistence.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
  • Founded in 1996, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve covers around 10,000 acres—a tiny fraction of the 170 million acres of prairie that once covered North America.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of prairie
Noun
  • The Gobi Desert is a vast, cold semi-arid and arid expanse stretching across 500,000 square miles of Mongolia and northern China.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • As the sun rose in in Louisville, Kentucky, some gathered at Historic Locust Grove, a green expanse where famous Americans like Meriwether Lewis and William Clark once met, to celebrate the United States' diversity.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of expanse

Browse Nearby Words

plaided
plain
plainclothesman
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Cite this Entry

“Plain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plain

Nglish: Translation of plain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plain

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