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
Relevance
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainly
Adverb
-
And the Shillings certainly weren’t happy with the amount.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
22 Aug. 2025 -
Keys’ career certainly hit its high point this past year, with her big win at the Australian Open.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
These simple acts, such as returning calls, remembering important details, showing up when promised and apologizing sincerely, reinforce the unspoken message of security and reassurance that no one is leaving each other’s side.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The back support was there, and as someone who’s five eleven, that was sincerely appreciated.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
1 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
The newest Netflix documentary will surely make viewers want to whip it good.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
-
And, surely, understanding how the Administration is using the National Guard in other places would help the judge with his fact-finding.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
19 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
So, be mindful of what’s mixed into your matcha—either going lighter on the sugar, opting for a sugar-free alternative, or enjoying it plain.—
Christina Manian,
Health,
18 Aug. 2025
-
All of it buttressed and built up higher, generation after generation, by the impoverished, the infirmed, and the plain ol’ unlucky.—
Jason Mott
August 14,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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One performer who definitely isn’t loving the trend, however, is Reneé Rapp.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
19 Aug. 2025
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The load times are definitely long, but the game handles beautifully, especially on a Switch 2 Pro pad.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Sauer and colleagues found in 2019 that the CD19 proteins were clearly visible with super-resolution microscopy.—
Katarina Zimmer,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The heat is clearly on Murray to produce this season.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
The mother of her French host family cooked simply and honestly each night with ingredients in season in Burgundy.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
12 Aug. 2025
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Answering honestly will tell you more about your leadership effectiveness than any performance metric.—
Dennis Kozak,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
After more than two weeks of the Dolphins practicing against each other, the intensity of Friday’s joint session northwest of Chicago could sure give them a jolt.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2025
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Wait and see on Gunner Stockton If Gunner Stockton lights up Marshall in an opening romp, that’s sure better than the alternative for Georgia.—
Blake Toppmeyer,
USA TODAY,
31 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Plainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainly. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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