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
-
That simple sentiment distills what being a Louisianan is about.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
No doubt history would be very different if a citizen’s duty was simple obeyance.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead the biscuits made from the mix were plain; my favorite part was the garlic and parsley butter brushed on top.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Feb. 2026
-
And very plain and simple, just depressed.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
17 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
-
Our mission to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to house the homeless, to teach the illiterate, to provide jobs for the jobless, and to choose the human race over the nuclear race.—
Cheryl Corley,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
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The next iteration of the naked dress trend is officially all about putting a skimpy twist on knitwear.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unvarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unvarnished. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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