unvarnished

[uhn-vahr-nisht]

adjective

1. plain; clear; straightforward; without vagueness or subterfuge; frank.

   the unvarnished truth.

   Synonyms: direct, candid, naked, bare

2. unfinished, as floors or furniture; not coated with or as if with varnish.

unvarnished

/ ʌnˈvɑːnɪʃt /

adjective

1. not elaborated upon or glossed; plain and direct

   the unvarnished truth

Word History and Origins

Origin of unvarnished¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; un- ¹ + varnish + -ed ³, -ed ²

Example Sentences

“I think there’s something viewers appreciate about the unvarnished part of it,” O’Brian said.

From Los Angeles Times

What emerges is an unvarnished chronicle: flashes of vision and vulnerability, spectacle and self-destruction, all captured through the lens of a young cameraman embedded in Ye’s orbit.

From Los Angeles Times

If we were to assign his TV father an epitaph, he could do a lot worse than the unvarnished speech that closes the first season.

From Salon

Her simple, unvarnished honesty stings in all the right ways, even in a time when most of us go to the movies looking for a break from the weariness of everyday life.

From Salon

A spokesperson for the museum told the BBC the damage was "superficial", adding: "Small scratches are visible in the unvarnished paint layer in the lower part of the painting".

From BBC

Related Words

• candid 
• straightforward 
• unadorned