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

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

These songs have the sort of direct, plain-spoken confidence that comes with age.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2024

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

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

plain-spoken

Example Sentences

Related Words