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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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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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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4
as in straightforward
going straight to the point clearly and firmly
a plain report on the current situation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner
told her plain that he loved her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plain
Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
And, instead of wearing a plain bikini, be like Chelsea and opt for a statement-making pattern, like the one on this scalloped-style two-piece.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2025
Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
And some are just plain unlikable, like Logan Paul.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Acoustic Sounds occupies a hodgepodge of squat industrial buildings in Salina, a city of about 50,000 near the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states, where grain elevators and a gigantic frozen pizza plant jut out from the flat plains landscape.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plain
Adjective
In the days before the funeral, Francis’ body lay amid the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica in a plain cypress coffin, an emblem of his simple, pastoral vision of the Catholic Church.
—Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
And, instead of wearing a plain bikini, be like Chelsea and opt for a statement-making pattern, like the one on this scalloped-style two-piece.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Really, any movie exceeding 100 minutes in this genre is just plain rude.
—Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
And some are just plain unlikable, like Logan Paul.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
In the vast plains of North America, a formidable predator once reigned supreme.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Acoustic Sounds occupies a hodgepodge of squat industrial buildings in Salina, a city of about 50,000 near the geographic center of the 48 contiguous states, where grain elevators and a gigantic frozen pizza plant jut out from the flat plains landscape.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain
Adjective
-
Murder victim's family has been 'counting down the minutes' until South Carolina execution Texas pastor with simple dream killed in his own church.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
Even something as simple as hanging your own art on the walls or sharing a project online will work.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Other video motifs include UFOs, idyllic green pastures, and vigorous exhortations to drink only the purest, rawest milk.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The pink boxes were cheaper than pure white because they were made from leftover cardboard stock.—
Bedatri D. Choudhury,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond her pioneering achievements behind the wheel, Levitt was also an inventor, a royal driving instructor, a suffragette and an outspoken writer.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The actor has long been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and particularly transgender women.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
On the surface, this was a straightforward inquiry.—
Kelly Iko,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
Overall, this is straightforward, with a finish that is a touch light Enjoy over the next 2-4 years.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Still, Strider was frustrated for obvious reasons and searching for answers.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
-
With such a depleted draft stash, the Bucks don't have any obvious levers to pull to help bolster their supporting cast alongside Antetokounmpo and Lillard.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While the continent was once home to 170 million acres of tall-grass prairie, now only four percent remains.—
Valerie Fraser Luesse,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2025
-
This call is a staple of the summer soundscape in American prairies, where the uppie serves as an indicator species for prime habitat.—
Carlyn Kranking,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That’s much lower than in a lab-grade vacuum, yet across vast expanses of space, even very low particle densities can add up, so Barnard 68’s tenuous material is still enough to absorb essentially all the light that would otherwise just pass through.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Spanning northwest New Jersey, the district is a mix of rural expanses with rolling hills and river towns, with dense urban pockets en route to New York.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And, to be honest, her description of the breakup at that time sounded a lot more amicable than it’s been sounding lately.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2025
-
But only if leaders have the appetite for that kind of honest data.—
Aparna Rae,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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