as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment
I'm telling the unvarnished truth
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Recent Examples of unvarnished
Their unvarnished alt-rock was led by wild-eyed singer Matt Shultz, a human rubber band who exhausted himself despite his vocals disappearing into the strong breeze.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Famed journalist and author Joan Didion’s life and work are celebrated in this unvarnished portrait by her nephew, actor and director Griffin Dunne.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Among the reasons cited for Platt’s dismissal was the perception that, under his administration, the city had lost the public’s trust by prioritizing positive public relations and branding over disseminating unvarnished information.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2025
The competition will give viewers an unvarnished look behind the curtain of comedy’s darkest corners and brightest spotlights with the challenges inspired by comics’ actual career trajectories.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unvarnished
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Famed journalist and author Joan Didion’s life and work are celebrated in this unvarnished portrait by her nephew, actor and director Griffin Dunne.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Among the reasons cited for Platt’s dismissal was the perception that, under his administration, the city had lost the public’s trust by prioritizing positive public relations and branding over disseminating unvarnished information.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2025
The competition will give viewers an unvarnished look behind the curtain of comedy’s darkest corners and brightest spotlights with the challenges inspired by comics’ actual career trajectories.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unvarnished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unvarnished
Adjective
-
Jared Jewelers Bulova Phantom Watch A watch is both practical and fashionable, and this style adds a touch of sparkle to simple outfits.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Each year, as the temperature rises, the town’s regular population of around 300 swells with thousands of kids soaking up the simple pleasures of the great outdoors.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Music industry machinations are mostly to blame; a higher supply of albums means more sales, which translates into chart performance and popularity and plain old checks to cash.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The locker rooms and antechambers behind the scenes are drab and plain.—
Richard Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The whole movie feels, if anything too realistic; an unflashy, unadorned terror borne from a real-life virus.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Jarmusch may not be explicitly referencing Carver, though both artists have made an unadorned style their identity.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This aspect will always cast her apart, even today, in the sense that a woman’s naked body is still perceived by audiences as something that stands out for some absurd reason, unfortunately.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The lawsuit stemmed from Nirvana’s use of a photo taken by Weddle at the Pasadena Aquatic Center in California that depicted Elden swimming naked toward a dollar bill on a fishhook.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unvarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unvarnished. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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