straightforward 1 of 2

adjective

ˌstrāt-ˈfȯr-wərd How to pronounce straightforward (audio)
Definition of straightforwardnext
1
as in direct
going straight to the point clearly and firmly a straightforward account of the football game with no digressions or personal comments

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course the missile continued on its straightforward path toward the enemy's command post

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in honest
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions I want you to be straightforward with me and tell me if this dress looks awful

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation the distinction between the two types of offenses is pretty straightforward

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straightforward

2 of 2

adverb

variants also straightforwards
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner she finally told him straightforward that she wasn't interested in a date

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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 straightforward
Adjective
Some of those explanations may be straightforward—at least compared with extraterrestrials. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 The Retention Argument The financial case for keeping a resident is straightforward in operational terms. — Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
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 See All Example Sentences for straightforward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightforward
  1. direct
  2. linear
  3. honest
  4. obvious
  5. openly
  6. straight
  7. outspoken
  8. apparent
Adjective
  • The animals are safe, but their home took a direct hit that left parts of the zoo unrecognizable.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Trump called Jones last month and urged him to meet with Jackson, who defeated Jones in a GOP primary in June, according to three people with direct knowledge of the conversation who aren’t authorized to speak publicly about the exchange.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of direct
Adjective
  • In France, linear TV viewing among 25-49-year-olds has more than halved since 2015.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Its leaves fall not in a linear way but in just two weeks during the transition between summer and autumn.
    — Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of linear
Adjective
  • And the honest inventory is longer than most executives think.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • His honest songwriting — and lack of fear around making a song sound a little darker or more dangerous than what we’re used to hearing on country radio — is what sets him apart.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of honest
Adjective
  • His first season with Bayern Munich, after leaving Liverpool in summer 2023, brought decent numbers but obvious tactical issues, leading to a sale to Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia for nearly the same fee a year later.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Film noir is the most obvious one, and much of the episode takes both its visual cues and its tone from classic noir.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adverb
  • Wednesday’s hierarchy openly predicted bumps in the road and one of them was felt on August 1, a week before the first competitive game of the new season.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia and Turkey — two nations that have been openly hostile toward one another for much of the last decade — pledged to go to war in each other’s defense.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of openly
Adjective
  • The match started on track for Sabalenka, who broke Alexandrova’s first service game, but Alexandrova won four straight games to go up 4-2.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Sadly, Yordan Alvarez and Jac Caglianone didn’t homer on Wednesday, running the cold streak to 12 straight picks.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of straight
Adjective
  • Kloss is an outspoken advocate for reproductive rights and other progressive causes.
    — Greg Beacham, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In a Republican primary, where candidates typically run to the right, voters may opt for the candidate that has the most outspoken track record.
    — Jack Harvel August 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of outspoken
Adjective
  • The note briefly displayed in court Thursday offered jurors in Clancy’s triple-murder trial perhaps their best glimpse yet at the Massachusetts mother’s apparent perspective on her own struggle with mental health leading up to the killings.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As students returned to campuses earlier this week to begin a new school year, the district’s worst-case scenario has not come to pass, although its apparent financial reprieve remains fragile.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of apparent

Browse Nearby Words

straight-faced
straightforward
straightforwardly
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Cite this Entry

“Straightforward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightforward. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of straightforward for Spanish Speakers

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