as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment
I'm telling the unvarnished truth
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Recent Examples of unvarnished
These performances are forthright, unvarnished.
—
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Their critiques are unvarnished and often darkly funny.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Enter unvarnished brass, the warm, ever-evolving metal ideal for high-touch spots like cabinet pulls, faucet handles, and light switch covers.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unvarnished
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
In these allegories of dehumanization, greed, and hope, Marshall takes an unvarnished view of his subjects, one that doesn’t sugarcoat the past or succumb to nostalgia for a mythical, precolonial Golden Age.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Their critiques are unvarnished and often darkly funny.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Enter unvarnished brass, the warm, ever-evolving metal ideal for high-touch spots like cabinet pulls, faucet handles, and light switch covers.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unvarnished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unvarnished
Adjective
-
Feltner’s routine was pretty simple.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For areas south and east of the city, a change to plain rain is anticipated before clearing later in the night.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Once the burners are completely cool, use a cloth dampened with plain water to wipe off the spill.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In stark contrast to Hatixhe’s unadorned sensibility, Adelina comes across as Western European, from her elegant clothing to her fertility treatments.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Somehow, these unadorned devices are transformed into materials of aching emotional weight.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The model posed in her own 2026 version of Carrie Bradshaw’s naked dress, which featured the same scoop neckline, thigh-grazing length, and minimalist spaghetti straps that the Sex and the City heroine memorably wore for her first date with Big.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Her body wasn’t found for more than two weeks when fishermen discovered a naked woman in the river 4 miles downstream from where she was last seen.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unvarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unvarnished. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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