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Showing results for call a spade a spade. Search instead for called spade spade.
Definitions

call a spade a spade

ADJECTIVE
forthright
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blunt candid categorical outspoken plainspoken sincere
WEAK
aboveboard bald direct directly forward frank from the hip like it is no lie open plain real simple straight undisguised up front
Antonyms
STRONGEST
tactful tricky
WEAK
devious dishonest secret untruthful
ADJECTIVE
frank
Synonyms
STRONG
blunt bold brazen direct familiar free heart-to-heart natural open plain real straight upright
WEAK
aboveboard apparent artless bare-faced candid down and dirty downright easy flat-out forthright from the hip guileless ingenuous lay it on the line like it is matter-of-fact naive outright outspoken plain-spoken saying what one thinks scrupulous sincere straightforward transparent truthful unconcealed undisguised uninhibited unreserved unrestricted up front
Antonyms
STRONG
abnormal ambiguous different dishonest indirect lying unclear uncommon vague
WEAK
devious evasive insincere secretive
ADJECTIVE
plainspoken
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blunt candid forthright guileless honest matter-of-fact naive outspoken straightforward
WEAK
aboveboard apparent artless bare-faced bold brazen direct downright easy familiar flat-out free from the hip heart-to-heart ingenuous lay it on the line like it is man-to-man natural open outright plain plain-spoken real saying what one thinks scrupulous sincere straight straight-out transparent truthful unconcealed undisguised uninhibited unreserved unrestricted up front upright
Antonyms
STRONGEST
artful deceitful devious dishonest lying tactful tricky untruthful
ADJECTIVE
straight-from-the-shoulder
Synonyms
WEAK
aboveboard apparent artless bare-faced blunt bold brazen candid direct downright easy familiar flat-out forthright free from the hip guileless heart-to-heart honest ingenuous lay it on the line like it is man-to-man matter-of-fact naive natural open outright outspoken plain plain-spoken plainspoken real saying what one thinks scrupulous sincere straight straight-out straightforward transparent truthful unconcealed undisguised uninhibited unreserved unrestricted up front upright
ADJECTIVE
straight-out
Synonyms
WEAK
aboveboard apparent artless bare-faced blunt bold brazen candid direct downright easy familiar flat-out forthright free from the hip guileless heart-to-heart honest ingenuous lay it on the line like it is man-to-man matter-of-fact naive natural open outright outspoken plain plain-spoken plainspoken real saying what one thinks scrupulous sincere straight straightforward transparent truthful unconcealed undisguised uninhibited unreserved unrestricted up front upright
ADJECTIVE
straight-shooting
Synonyms
WEAK
aboveboard apparent artless bare-faced blunt bold brazen candid direct downright easy familiar flat-out forthright free from the hip guileless heart-to-heart honest ingenuous lay it on the line like it is man-to-man matter-of-fact naive natural open outright outspoken plain plain-spoken plainspoken real saying what one thinks scrupulous sincere straight straight-out straightforward transparent truthful unconcealed undisguised uninhibited unreserved unrestricted up front upright
VERB
define
Synonyms
STRONGEST
characterize construe decide delineate describe designate detail determine exemplify explain illustrate interpret prescribe represent specify spell out
STRONG
ascertain assign denominate denote dub elucidate entitle etch expound formalize label name tag translate
WEAK
lay it out nail it down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
confuse hesitate hide misrepresent obscure
WEAK
distort tangle twist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I mean, call a spade a spade: Bron is on his last couple of years — however many years he decides to play,” Austin Reaves said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2025

So, I think the unwillingness to actually call a spade a spade, maybe it’s justified, but there’s no actual solution.

From Slate • Jun. 28, 2023

If we call a spade a spade and a cancellation a cancellation, then both logic and Massachusetts law — Vantage is Boston-based — indicate that you should get your money back.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2022

“Why hasn’t it happened? Let’s call a spade a spade: They’re not looking,” Anderson said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 11, 2022

To them I am only Adah or, to my sisters sometimes, the drear monosyllabic Ade, lemonade, Band-Aid, frayed blockade, switchblade renegade, call a spade a spade.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.