plain-spoken

[ pleyn-spoh-kuhn ]

adjective

1. candid; frank; blunt.
2. using simple, direct language:

   a plain-spoken politician.

plain-spoken

adjective

1. candid; frank; blunt

Word History and Origins

Origin of plain-spoken¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

Already collected by fellow artists Cindy Sherman and Kaws, director Sofia Coppola and music mogul Benny Blanco, and having produced two collaborations with Italian fashion house Marni, the plain-spoken ceramist is doing decidedly better than OK.

From Los Angeles Times

A simple line, but it brought the house down because of the plain-spoken truth Walz has swiftly become famous for.

From Salon

The 60-year-old brings with him a folksy, plain-spoken and sharp-tongued approach to taking on the Republican opposition.

From BBC

Gálvez, a woman who went from a poor Indigenous town to starting her own tech firm, has been the wild card in the race: her plain-spoken, folksy approach has produced both punchy phrases and monumental gaffes.

From Seattle Times

From 1996 to 2016, this time slot was filled by Bill O’Reilly, an ex–Inside Edition host whose plain-spoken right-wing bombast was, in retrospect, almost comforting in its smug laziness.

From Slate

Related Words

• brusque
• candid
• curt
• explicit
• forthright
• matter-of-fact
• outspoken
• rude
• trenchant