1
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner
you'll have to tell your relatives very plainly that you don't like perfume, or they'll keep giving it to you
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in certainly
without any question
your wife is plainly upset that you didn't invite her to the game with us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plainly
The barely believable but entirely true story saw gay rights activists trick their way into the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London by dressing plainly and conservatively – one even went as far as dressing as nun, while another donned the garbs of a bishop.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Microsoft was plainly not about to wash away its own or anyone else’s footprint.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Carlile includes some of her most plainly autobiographical lyrics, at the beginning and end (like her first plane trip, one state over, to Idaho, as an adult, an anecdote familiar from her bestselling memoir of a few years back).
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
What happens when a candidate speaks plainly?
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
In a small and plainly shot movie that spends most of its time on Gaslighting 101, sublimates its true premise into the stuff of a late reveal, and whose only sequence of genre-forward suspense is a predictable snooze, such rare moments of real texture stand out all too much.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
This is plainly and simply a selfish decision on his part.
—ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
Maybe that’s a delicate dance even for Drinkwitz, who invoked the Alabama game several times but semi-playfully chided the media for relevant questions about the stuff that plainly needs to be shored up.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
A lot of this occurs off-page, in contrast to the movie, which spells things out incredibly plainly.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Microsoft was plainly not about to wash away its own or anyone else’s footprint.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Carlile includes some of her most plainly autobiographical lyrics, at the beginning and end (like her first plane trip, one state over, to Idaho, as an adult, an anecdote familiar from her bestselling memoir of a few years back).
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
What happens when a candidate speaks plainly?
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
In a small and plainly shot movie that spends most of its time on Gaslighting 101, sublimates its true premise into the stuff of a late reveal, and whose only sequence of genre-forward suspense is a predictable snooze, such rare moments of real texture stand out all too much.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
This is plainly and simply a selfish decision on his part.
—ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
Maybe that’s a delicate dance even for Drinkwitz, who invoked the Alabama game several times but semi-playfully chided the media for relevant questions about the stuff that plainly needs to be shored up.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
A lot of this occurs off-page, in contrast to the movie, which spells things out incredibly plainly.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainly
Adverb
-
In late October, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted a YouTube interview with Nick Fuentes, a popular white-nationalist and openly antisemitic pundit.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Minnesota coach Chris Finch senses a growing interest in the tournament for players across the league, noting guys talk openly about it.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Teams that may have some postseason games to play are certainly showing themselves as playoff scenarios take shape in KC-area and regional college football.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Even on Saturday, in a game that was almost certainly his best, Michkov was on the ice for just 14 minutes and 10 seconds.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Over Zoom Wendel seems sincerely excited these changes and clear-eyed about the reasons for them.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Even among some voters who were sincerely uncomfortable with Mamdani’s past rhetoric, many rationalized that an authentic Democrat with a pulse was still better than someone who might be manipulated from afar.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
That care meant an eight-month rehabilitation stay at two facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, and a future that surely would not include broadcasting as Hains fought for his life.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Business, finance, capital, and prosperity will surely follow.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
To me, there’s nothing more upsetting than excitedly going in the fridge to pull out ingredients for a crisp salad or plate up delicious fruit only to find everything has wilted, gotten mushy, and just plain ol’ sad.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
-
At best, such ideas come across as quaint; at worst, dangerous or plain wrongheaded.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
All told, whether a dive bar is in a downtown area, off a busy main street or hidden in a neighborhood, these are beloved spots that draw regulars and newcomers for the drinks, perhaps a good bar burger, but definitely the camaraderie.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Except, of course, there definitely have been Mexicans protesting ICE actions, flying Mexican flags and saying California and Texas were stolen from them.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
And honestly, what could be more feeble?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Taking care of yourself from the inside out is honestly the secret.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Affordability is clearly the most significant political theme running through both local and national politics today.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Johnson, who was also posting memes in reaction to the news of Gardner and Williams being traded, was clearly devastated to see his teammates and friends leave the Jets.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainly. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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