straightforwardness

noun

as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions not all of her voice students appreciate the straightforwardness with which she tells them that they're not going to make it as professional singers

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 straightforwardness Their impressiveness came from their straightforwardness, their precision and generosity of flavor, without needless curlicues or misguided deconstruction. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 What is genuinely remarkable, though, is that this meteoric machine drives with the straightforwardness of a Toyota Camry. — Sean Evans, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026 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 Mary Gaitskill is particularly good at this ideal combination of straightforwardness and pithiness. — Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026 Her question, in Lipe-Smith’s inquisitive piccolo of a voice, is heartbreaking in its blend of straightforwardness and desperate desire, as is her mother’s wavering response. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightforwardness
  1. honesty
  2. sincerity
  3. directness
  4. frankness
  5. forthrightness
  6. bluntness
Noun
  • In a world that rewards keeping appearances, Space Afrika makes conveying honesty and vulnerability look easy.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But when customers already know something went wrong, an apology can signal warmth and honesty.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Still, the sincerity matters, and so does the achievement of realizing something this strange with such conviction.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
  • After many fans online questioned the sincerity of Art of Play’s statement, Clarkson herself stepped back into the fray.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Savio The Brazilian is still finding his feet but already feels like an important player, offering pace, directness and a willingness to take on his man — qualities lacking in many of his team-mates.
    — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Paul, meanwhile, was in a period of uncharacteristic autobiographical directness in his lyric-writing, documenting his grievances with his actor girlfriend Jane Asher while residing in her family’s London home.
    — Darryn King, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of directness
Noun
  • Lin is known in town to be incredibly fair, but at times obtuse in his frankness.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The novel, published in 1988, foreshadowed the career to come by taking on, with disarming frankness, everything from child abuse to transracial adoption.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of frankness
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
  • Casting Bill Burr — the stand-up, who in recent years has repeatedly gone viral for speaking hard truths right to people’s face with all the bluntness of his blue-collar Boston roots — was a whole other layer of wish fulfillment for Sorkin.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Still, everyone onstage seemed amused and accustomed to Lange’s bluntness.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of bluntness

Browse Nearby Words

straightforwardly
straightforwardness
straightness
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Cite this Entry

“Straightforwardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightforwardness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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