directness

noun

də-ˈrek(t)-nəs How to pronounce directness (audio)
Definition of directnessnext
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions his directness is much appreciated by his patients

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of directness That directness, JayQuan says, is hip-hop’s biggest gift to the world. — Abraham Swee, USA Today, 29 June 2026 But where her labelmates routinely drape their songs in warm, dense fuzz, Babuka Black opts for clarity and directness. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 His filmmaking has a lovely, homespun directness. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 June 2026 Marjane laughed easily; her warmth and directness dissolved my anxiety. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for directness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directness
  1. honesty
  2. sincerity
  3. frankness
  4. bluntness
  5. forthrightness
  6. straightforwardness
  7. candor
Noun
  • A little warmth will keep honesty from sounding like criticism.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That honesty, counterintuitively, builds more trust than advocacy.
    — Aurelien Mangano, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • The human nervous system recognizes sincerity faster than polish.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Alter denounced Kanter Freedom as a bad-faith actor and questioned the sincerity of his concerns about transgender women in sports.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Written with grimy, enlivening frankness — and an ability to dig into moral ambiguity — every character scrambles to get a leg up.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • King walked into the room with impersonal frankness and sat on the bed beside me.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of frankness
Noun
  • What Premier League clubs have shifted away from is — and apologies for the bluntness here — tolerating goalkeepers who aren’t good enough at saving shots.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The Venezuela native never shied away from bluntness — and profanity — in assessing players, plays, games or whatever.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bluntness
Noun
  • Alvarado has had to address that in the wake of the film’s release, and perhaps that forthrightness has aided the box office.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • Your forthrightness will set the tone for future dates.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 6 June 2026
Definition of forthrightness
Noun
  • But the Windows handheld software experience on the Claw is just awful compared to the straightforwardness of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
    — Jay Peters, The Verge, 23 June 2026
  • On Monday morning, Starmer, whose resignation has appeared inevitable for some time, delivered the news with his customary straightforwardness.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of straightforwardness
Noun
  • There’s a certain grim candor about the president’s palatial ambitions for the executive mansion.
    — Jason Willick, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2026
  • According to another league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity for their candor, New Orleans has been interested in Mathurin since his time in Indiana and sees him as a potential long-term piece.
    — William Guillory, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of candor

Browse Nearby Words

direct mails
directness
director
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Cite this Entry

“Directness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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