unvarnished

adjective

un·​var·​nished ˌən-ˈvär-nisht How to pronounce unvarnished (audio)
Synonyms of unvarnishednext
1
a
: not adorned or glossed : plain, straightforward
told the unvarnished truth
b
: artless, frank
… the unvarnished candor of old people and children.—Janet Flanner
2
: not coated with or as if with varnish : crude, unfinished

Synonyms of unvarnished

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Examples of unvarnished in a Sentence

If you want my unvarnished opinion, the movie stinks. I'm telling the unvarnished truth.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although bright whites dominate the hotel’s design, the warmth of unvarnished wood furniture does much to temper its starkness, and judicious use of pops of colour – fresh greens, yellows and florals – gives visual interest to the luxe space. — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026 Share How Your Company Handles Failure Open-source the unvarnished decision post-mortem. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 And my mom always had unvarnished editorial comments on the music of my career. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026 At least three were heard in an unvarnished conversation about Kings players Ben Simmons and Zach LaVine that took a personal turn. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unvarnished

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of unvarnished was in 1605

Rhymes for unvarnished

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Browse Nearby Words

unvariegated
unvarnished
unvarying
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Cite this Entry

“Unvarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unvarnished. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unvarnished

adjective
un·​var·​nished ˌən-ˈvär-nisht How to pronounce unvarnished (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not adorned or exaggerated : plain
the unvarnished truth
2
: not varnished
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