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Definitions

plain-spoken

[pleyn-spoh-kuhn] / ˈpleɪnˈspoʊ kən /
ADJECTIVE
bluff
Synonyms
STRONG
blunt blustering brief direct frank open rough short tart
WEAK
barefaced bearish breviloquent brusque candid crusty curt downright forthright gruff hearty honest laconic no-nonsense outspoken rude short-spoken sincere snippety snippy straightforward tactless terse unceremonious
Antonyms
STRONG
courteous devious dishonest lengthy long polite
ADJECTIVE
blunt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
brusque candid curt explicit forthright matter-of-fact outspoken rude trenchant
STRONG
bluff brief frank short
WEAK
abrupt crusty discourteous gruff impolite snappy snippy tactless unceremonious uncivil unpolished
Antonyms
STRONGEST
devious kind nice polite tactful
STRONG
lengthy long
WEAK
needled pointed sharp subtle
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 call a spade a spade 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 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
outspoken
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blunt candid forthright strident vocal
WEAK
abrupt artless calling spade a spade direct frank free laying it on the line open plain point-blank round square straightforward talking turkey unceremonious unequivocal unreticent up front
Antonyms
STRONGEST
devious
WEAK
cautious diplomatic introverted reserved retiring shy tactful
ADJECTIVE
plainspoken
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blunt candid forthright guileless honest matter-of-fact naive outspoken straightforward
WEAK
aboveboard apparent artless bare-faced bold brazen call a spade a spade 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 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 call a spade a spade 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 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 call a spade a spade 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 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 call a spade a spade 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 plainspoken real saying what one thinks scrupulous sincere straight straight-out straightforward transparent truthful unconcealed undisguised uninhibited unreserved unrestricted up front upright
ADJECTIVE
transparent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
candid clear-cut easy honest sincere straightforward
WEAK
apparent articulate artless direct distinct distinguishable easily seen evident explicit forthright frank guileless ingenuous manifest open patent perspicuous plain recognizable self-explanatory straight unambiguous undisguised unequivocal unmistakable unsophisticated visible
Antonyms
STRONGEST
complicated deceitful devious difficult dishonest hard involved lying tricky untrustworthy
WEAK
blocked cloudy dark opaque questionable unclear unintelligible vague

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.

Many of the AI country tunes tap into the genre's archetype of the lone cowboy: a rugged, taciturn, plain-spoken man who, above all, refuses to apologize for simply existing.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

A simple line, but it brought the house down because of the plain-spoken truth Walz has swiftly become famous for.

From Salon • Aug. 7, 2024

The 60-year-old brings with him a folksy, plain-spoken and sharp-tongued approach to taking on the Republican opposition.

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2024

A Midwesterner by birth, born at midcentury, she is self-deprecating, plain-spoken and armed with a wicked gift for irony.

From New York Times • May 16, 2024

The gardener, a young, plain-spoken fellow, gestured toward his wheelbarrow.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood