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Synonyms

candidness

American  
[kan-did-nis] / ˈkæn dɪd nɪs /

noun

  1. the quality of being open, honest, or straightforward.

    We appreciate the promptness and candidness with which the professor has addressed and apologized for his oversight.

    The book, despite its candidness about the grim realities of the situation, offers a message of hope and promise.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of candidness

candid ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

See Examples For:

“Brutal honesty, candidness, no politics. Politics have no place to play with me. I don’t want a single ‘yes’ person around me.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 24, 2026

But as we learn more about Cody, Jack and the hard road ahead, “Union County” doesn’t pitch its treatment as a cure-all, nor engineer candidness into dramatic gold.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 14, 2026

Many reflected on Brendon’s candidness about his personal struggles, celebrating his humanity alongside his talent.

From Salon Mar. 21, 2026

But the dancers encourage candidness by sharing stories about their own bodies, or examples from other participants.

From New York Times Nov. 21, 2022

I was surprised by his candidness and said so.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

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