frankly

[frangk-lee] / ˈfræŋk li /

ADVERB

very honestly

Synonyms

STRONG

candidly

WEAK

bluntly dead level directly forthrightly freely from the hip in truth laid on the line level on the level on the line openly plainly straight straight-out straightforwardly without reserve

Antonyms

WEAK

deviously dishonestly insincerely secretively

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.

It is, frankly, difficult to parse this concurrence.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

“We could do that for L.A. and we could do that for, frankly, San Francisco.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“I had to squat and kick my heels out, which, frankly, was not easy for me,” he said.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

"Each relationship frankly, in a way, stands on its own merits," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

It was frankly hard to imagine real life happening there.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama