Plainspoken
What it means
Using clear, direct language without ornament or evasion.
Reach for it when praising honest communication that ordinary listeners can follow
The engineer's plainspoken warning led everyone to take the fault seriously.
Words to choose between 7
| everyday |
|
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when the speaker reaches the point without delay
Careful Direct speech can be technical or blunt and is not always simple.
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everyday
Fits when the message is easy to understand and uncomplicated
Careful Straightforward can describe a task or situation, not specifically a speaking style.
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warm
Fits when practical friendliness accompanies simple language
Careful Down-to-earth describes the whole manner or character, not just the words chosen.
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professional
Fits when openness about difficult facts matters most
Careful Candid emphasizes honesty, even if the language is elaborate.
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formal
Fits when courage in stating a position deserves notice
Careful Forthright may sound forceful where plainspoken is calm and accessible.
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formal
Fits when intellectual clarity is the achievement
Careful Lucid can be polished and complex rather than conversationally plain.
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literary
unvarnished
Fits when facts are presented without softening
Careful Unvarnished often signals harshness or unpleasant detail.
Opposites 3
- evasive
- ornate
- obscure
Common phrases 3
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plainspoken advice
Plainspoken advice helped the new volunteers act with confidence.
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plainspoken manner
Her plainspoken manner made disagreement feel manageable rather than hostile.
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plainspoken account
The plainspoken account gave each failure the same attention as each success.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated