forthrightly

adverb

as in openly
in an honest and direct manner the police commissioner forthrightly and unhesitatingly admitted his mistake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 forthrightly 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 The appeals on stage spoke forthrightly about God, usually in explicitly Christian terms. — Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025 This absolute confidentiality helps give penitents the confidence to approach confession forthrightly, without holding back. — Timothy Gabrielli, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2025 His exile, rather than marginalizing him, gave him the rare platform from which to speak forthrightly. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forthrightly
  1. openly
  2. sincerely
  3. honestly
  4. straightforward
  5. straightforwardly
  6. plainly
  7. abruptly
Adverb
  • Most telling is how openly Stassi disdains the idea of therapy, even insisting to the horror of pretty much everyone else onscreen that forcing hard conversations on reality TV is her therapy.
    — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The honest move is to redesign the coordination function openly.
    — Pallavi Mahajan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • Colquitt sincerely believes that her work can restore the dignity too often denied people in their last days.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • But the results and the action on the field were second to the experience for Baldwin, who was sincerely present in the moment during the two days of All-Star Game activities.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of sincerely
Adverb
  • The props team either hated me or loved me, honestly [laughs].
    — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • Start with what you cannot get answered honestly in the room.
    — Susan Laine, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of honestly
Adverb
  • Through a layered and deeply nuanced performance, Cardellini transforms what could have been a straightforward femme fatale into a fiercely compelling protagonist.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
  • The mix’s seasoning veers straightforward and notably doesn’t list horseradish.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of straightforward
Adverb
  • In her final Facebook post, Josée straightforwardly leaves a link to the time and place of her funeral.
    — Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Reilly, who composed the song wholesale, seems content to swap his Satie-esque irresolution for something straightforwardly plaintive, like a lullaby.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Definition of straightforwardly
Adverb
  • There is a useful counterpoint worth naming plainly here too.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Legislature should say plainly that a building’s shape cannot be a separate environmental harm once its use and density have already passed full review.
    — Zack Defazio Farrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026
Definition of plainly
Adverb
  • The pursuit kept going past Cline Avenue before the Kia abruptly exited onto the Kennedy Avenue exit ramp, state police said.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The mall closed in January 2015, except for Carson Pirie Scott, which shut its doors abruptly in March 2018.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of abruptly

Browse Nearby Words

forthright
forthrightly
forthrightness
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Cite this Entry

“Forthrightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forthrightly. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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