as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions
not all of her voice students appreciate the straightforwardness with which she tells them that they're not going to make it as professional singers
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Recent Examples of straightforwardness
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
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightforwardness
Noun
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Someone could surprise you with honesty, or a connection could flip overnight.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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But Seehorn learned through Gould on Saul that honesty in any direction leads to the respect of an audience, not shameless pandering.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Suddenly, sincerity felt like a fresher approach to a contemporary political story—more interesting, more unexpected, and more aligned with my artistic ethos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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Even with the emotional whiplash of Edward's shifting moods, Pattinson channels a sober sincerity that's almost magnetic.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In keeping with a pleasing streak of industry satire here—Michael Haneke and Netflix get hilarious shout-outs—Fanning has a bracing directness that cuts through all the dramaturgical throat-clearing.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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Pace was central to everything good about Forest, who were set up to hit opposition with explosive speed and directness on the counter-attack through players such as Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But despite its frankness, the show is more interested in ambition than in sexuality or gender relations.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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The recording of that release as depicted in the documentary is the balancing light to the overwhelming dark Osbourne experienced in his later years, a series of illnesses, hospitalizations, frustrations and ceaseless pain shown with unblinking frankness.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For parents, the name of the game is forthrightness.—
Nona Han,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
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The elections have vindicated Move Forward’s forthrightness, confirming that citizens want a national conversation about the monarchy.—
Tamara Loos,
Foreign Affairs,
25 May 2023
Noun
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In films like that, the cultural commentary comes more from metaphor than with the bluntness and directness of The Purge.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
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There’s been a bluntness all season to the Hermits’ chats that ordinarily might grate on me.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straightforwardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightforwardness. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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