Ready to consider unfamiliar ideas or possibilities without deciding against them first.
Reach for it when praising receptiveness while leaving room for thoughtful disagreement
The committee stayed open to a smaller pilot after hearing the residents' concerns.
| everyday |
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|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
Fits when consent to try something is the useful fact
Careful Willing may reflect duty or pressure rather than genuine openness.
warm
Fits when interest and questions drive the openness
Careful Curiosity can coexist with quick judgment or refusal to change.
warm
Fits when a durable willingness to examine different views deserves praise
Careful Choose open for a temporary invitation rather than a character trait.
professional
Fits when a person can adjust plans as evidence changes
Careful Flexibility concerns adaptation, not necessarily fair consideration of ideas.
professional
Fits when a person makes others safe to speak honestly
Careful The word is too specific if the topic is an idea, method, or opportunity.
professional
Fits when someone actively receives a suggestion or response
Careful It does not guarantee broad tolerance beyond the matter at hand.
formal
Fits when someone is favorably disposed to a proposal
Careful It can imply easy compliance and may undersell independent judgment.
literary
Fits when tolerance of varied beliefs or lifestyles is central
Careful It sounds overstated for agreeing to reconsider one practical detail.
open to feedback
Rina remained open to feedback even after months of work on the design.
keep an open mind
Please keep an open mind until both teams have demonstrated their approach.
open discussion
An open discussion helped the neighbors separate facts from assumptions.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: TheDaveRoss, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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