forthright

American  

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

adjective

1. going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken.

   It's sometimes difficult to be forthright and not give offense.

2. proceeding in a straight course; direct; straightforward.

   a forthright glance.

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adverb

1. straight or directly forward; in a direct or straightforward manner.

   He told us forthright just what his objections were.

2. straightaway; at once; immediately.

   He saw forthright that such an action was folly.

noun

1. Archaic. a straight course or path.

forthright British  

adjective

1. direct and outspoken

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adverb

1. in a direct manner; frankly

2. at once

Other Word Forms

• forthrightness noun
• unforthright adjective

Etymology

Origin of forthright

before 1000; Middle English; Old English forthrihte. See forth, right

Example Sentences

‘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

Then again, Gyllenhaal is perfectly forthright with her affinity for Shelley’s perspective, opening her film with a small revelation hidden from the trailers.

From Salon

She’s forthright with her interest in depravity, and as such, her films make no effort to conceal their degeneracies or shock the viewer.

From Salon

With its moribund state-managed economy still struggling under crippling sanctions, Kim is not expected to be so forthright this time around.

From Barron's

Some participants, he sees, are keen to see more forthright action.

From BBC

Related Words

• blunt
• candid
• categorical
• outspoken
• plainspoken
• sincere