as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
a plainspoken woman who never hesitated to speak the unvarnished truth
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Recent Examples of plainspoken
With Michael Shannon magnificently plainspoken as Garfield, Matthew Macfadyen tragically deranged as Charles Guiteau and Nick Offerman steeped in inner conflict as undeserving Vice President Chester Alan Arthur, this is as good as historical drama gets.
—
Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Widely listened to for decades, his staying power comes from his plainspoken nature, genuineness and relatability as much as his determination and hard work.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Their sound does too — Silvers’ mezzo-soprano voice has already been compared to that of Mitchell, and her plainspoken lyricism has a certain Dylan-esque quality to it.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Bands with songs about their members’ tumultuous interpersonal dynamics are not unique — see the long history of Fleetwood Mac — but what makes Hartzman’s approach to the topic so compelling, in both prose and song, is her vulnerability, her plainspoken lyricism, and keen observation.
—Karly Hartzman, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plainspoken
Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 23 Dec. 2025
Widely listened to for decades, his staying power comes from his plainspoken nature, genuineness and relatability as much as his determination and hard work.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Their sound does too — Silvers’ mezzo-soprano voice has already been compared to that of Mitchell, and her plainspoken lyricism has a certain Dylan-esque quality to it.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Bands with songs about their members’ tumultuous interpersonal dynamics are not unique — see the long history of Fleetwood Mac — but what makes Hartzman’s approach to the topic so compelling, in both prose and song, is her vulnerability, her plainspoken lyricism, and keen observation.
—Karly Hartzman, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plainspoken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainspoken
Adjective
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Employees have been less outspoken as layoffs increased after companies over-hired during the covid-19 pandemic and embraced artificial intelligence.—
Joseph Menn The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
21 Jan. 2026
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Once-outspoken entertainers have been a bit quieter of late as well.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Sharing the video felt like a way to acknowledge that reality in an honest way.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Most Americans are good, honest, hardworking Americans who want to make their country a better place.—
Tony Dokoupil,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Beijing is also candid — if selectively so — about its interest in strategic resources.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2026
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Bird shared a candid carousel of photos from a fun night with friends, featuring her girlfriend by her side.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The frank tone of the letter that carefully picked apart the plan proved a common feature of Jaworski’s time at City Hall.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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But do the hierarchy want another frank agitator in Maresca, having been sufficiently chastened by Amorim’s semi-regular public declarations?—
Peter South,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plainspoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainspoken. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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