CANDIDLY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

candidly

adverb

Definition of candidly

as in openly

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of candidly In October, Parton spoke candidly in a video message that was released after her sister raised concerns by publicly asking fans to pray for the singer. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Players in the poll were granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive topics. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Yet, with a trial in the antitrust case set for March, Ellison has never felt more confident that the deal not only makes sense, but will get completed, according to a person familiar with his thinking, who asked to remain unnamed to speak candidly. — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 Even when teams share a clear purpose and understand their roles, conversations can still fall short if people don’t feel comfortable speaking candidly. — Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business Review, 17 Aug. 2026 To report candidly on the experience, weighing any benefits against the hefty investment of time and money. — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2026 Paintings passed down vital wisdom about flora and fauna while candidly documenting the full spectrum of human life—from group dances and hunts to intimacy, reproductive cycles, and rituals. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026 In a 2014 Vanity Fair cover story, Downey spoke candidly about his time in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 Metz has also spoken candidly about how her complicated relationship with food and weight began long before Hollywood. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidly

Adverb

The Tate brothers, who openly describe themselves as misogynists, built a global following by promoting a lavish, hypermasculine lifestyle through their social media empire.

— Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point reports that veteran foreign jihadists now openly call al-Sharaa a sellout.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of openly

Adverb

Furious drops the ball a bit in the interactions with Emma and Jay Easton, turning them into one-dimensional caricatures instead of complex villains, but honestly, this show isn’t really about them.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
But honestly, what got me the most excited was less about the supernatural concept of demons coming to this world.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of honestly

Adverb

What about how police agencies understand criminality and risk can only be put on the table and frankly stated behind closed doors?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
The last time Harry Brook batted in a Test for England his performance was so chaotic, frenetic and, frankly, irresponsible that New Zealand’s players laughed at him.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of frankly

Adverb

Foley has been the one board member who has forthrightly stood up for oversight and accountability on every key issue.

— The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Coming off the ice, Malinin forthrightly congratulated the winner, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, as if to communicate that Shaidorov won the prize from his own efforts, not from Malinin’s failure.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Definition of forthrightly

Adverb

Their cute, elderly golden retriever, Cassie, is used for such baldly emotionally manipulative ends.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Pinney’s fantasies and visual metaphors are sometimes more poignant in concept than in execution, and a theme of Ray’s crude racist impulses is baldly inserted but left undeveloped.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

Definition of baldly

Adverb

Not the layoffs, the mergers, the rampant unemployment, and the fear that comes with it — all of that and more unreservedly sucks.

— Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of unreservedly

Adverb

While the use of AI in the filmmaking process remains a delicate topic in Hollywood, Wall Street has a more straightforwardly Darwinian view.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
In her final Facebook post, Josée straightforwardly leaves a link to the time and place of her funeral.

— Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of straightforwardly

Adverb

At issue are a raft of local and state laws that, in one side’s reading, plainly state that the city allows a maximum of three terms, which bars Altamirano from serving on the council again.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Set the agenda, define who owns what, and say the main point plainly.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of plainly

Browse Nearby Words

candidates

candidly

candidness

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“Candidly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidly. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of candidly

adverb

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