forthright

[fawrth-rahyt, fohrth-, fawrth-rahyt, fohrth-, fawrth-rahyt, fohrth-] / ˈfɔrθˌraɪt, ˈfoʊrθ-, ˌfɔrθˈraɪt, ˌfoʊrθ-, ˈfɔrθˌraɪt, ˈfoʊrθ- /

ADJECTIVE

straightforward, honest

Synonyms

STRONGEST

blunt candid categorical outspoken plainspoken sincere

WEAK

aboveboard bald call a spade a spade direct directly forward frank from the hip like it is no lie open plain real simple straight undisguised up front

Antonyms

STRONGEST

tactful tricky

WEAK

devious dishonest secret untruthful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pope Leo XIV has told Cameroon's government to root out corruption during a forthright address on the second leg of his African tour.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

But she did blame the Defense Department for not being more forthright about when and how the fighting would end.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

‘Humanize me a little,” says the petite woman in a cashmere sweater at the end of a forthright, occasionally spiky interview.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

How forthright Japan's first woman premier can afford to be in their March 19 meeting, and how receptive the 79-year-old Trump will be, remain to be seen however.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

With his other correspondents, though not with Jefferson, he was much more forthright.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Vocabulary lists containing forthright

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