Habitually willing to examine ideas or people without letting first impressions settle the verdict.
Reach for it when describing a person whose fairness extends beyond one isolated decision
An open-minded mentor asked what the unconventional portfolio was trying to achieve.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm |
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| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
willing to listen
Fits when you want plain language for a card or recommendation
Careful A hearing can be polite while the conclusion remains fixed.
warm
Fits when eagerness to learn is more visible than acceptance
Careful A curious person can still cling tightly to an existing conclusion.
warm
Fits when balanced judgment between people is being praised
Careful It is narrower than openness to unfamiliar methods or creative ideas.
professional
Fits when thinking changes in response to circumstances
Careful Do not use it if moral limits remain firm but other views receive a hearing.
professional
Fits when a person responds positively to input
Careful Receptive can describe one moment without implying a generally fair outlook.
formal
Fits when allowing views or practices one does not share
Careful Tolerance may mean merely putting up with something, not considering it fairly.
formal
Fits when absence of a specific prejudice is the important claim
Careful The absolute wording needs stronger evidence than ordinary open-mindedness.
literary
Fits when acceptance of different customs or beliefs is the emphasis
Careful It may sound old-fashioned in a modern resume or performance review.
open-minded approach
Her open-minded approach let the workshop combine two competing proposals.
remain open-minded
The jurors worked to remain open-minded until every witness had spoken.
genuinely open-minded
A genuinely open-minded leader can question a new idea without dismissing it.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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