1
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
his unabashed plainness in telling people exactly what he thought of them was often offensive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in simplicity
the quality or state of having a form or structure of few parts or elements
the plainness and clean lines of that coffeemaker make it a piece of modern sculpture as well as a kitchen appliance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plainness
That plainness, though, adds to the sense that Death in the Family isn’t packing in unnecessary frills, just conveying what happened and following the facts.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainness
Noun
-
This communicates self-awareness, honesty, and long-term reliability.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This is the year relationships and commitments stop being theoretical and start demanding structure and honesty.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The third, set in prehistoric times, is dazzling in its simplicity and dramatic rigor, and could’ve easily done without the others.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The low-to-the-ground shoe was overall a showcase of streamlined simplicity with its lack of embellishment and glove-like fit.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Know that conversations deserve deep sincerity.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
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Part of what comes to me, Roxana, is my sincerity and my earnestness.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
However, treating this relationship transition with kindness, directness and respect is your responsibility.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
While not perfect, Johnson was involved in many of Palace’s best attacking moments and brought directness and purpose, qualities that have been lacking in their game since Ismaila Sarr left just before Christmas to play for Senegal in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off those comments as an example of the president’s frankness.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
8 Dec. 2025
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Their frankness and loyalty are also notable when the call is in.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What mattered was not the bluntness of the phrase, but the calm delivery.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The bluntness of her cut is on full display, with the ends turning up ever so slightly.—
Elise Tabin,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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WalletHub has studied deferred interest since 2012, periodically flagging retailers that offer the loans and rating their financing offers on transparency and forthrightness.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
28 Nov. 2025
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Monique’s penchant for forthrightness, almost to the point of abruptness, is what makes her reintegration to the cast fascinating already.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plainness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainness. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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