forthright
Americanadjective
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going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken.
It's sometimes difficult to be forthright and not give offense.
-
proceeding in a straight course; direct; straightforward.
a forthright glance.
adverb
-
straight or directly forward; in a direct or straightforward manner.
He told us forthright just what his objections were.
-
straightaway; at once; immediately.
He saw forthright that such an action was folly.
noun
adjective
adverb
-
in a direct manner; frankly
-
at once
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of forthright
before 1000; Middle English; Old English forthrihte. See forth, right
Explanation
When a person is being forthright, they're being direct, clear, or even straight-up. The opposite of forthright might be evasive, shifty, indirect, or circuitous. But we're not here to talk about those. We're here to talk about forthright. For the most part, people really appreciate it when others are forthright. It's so much easier to understand what someone wants when they just come out and say it. However, being direct and honest and saying what you really mean isn't easy for everyone. For some reason, a lot of us can be embarrassed to say what we want, and we spend our entire lives learning how to be forthright. A simple way to remember what forthright means is this: if you bring it "forth," it will be "right."
Vocabulary lists containing forthright
The Things They Carried
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for October 3–9, 2020
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This Week in Words: August 6 - 10, 2018
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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.
Others in Merz's party have been forthright in their condemnation, calling on Spahn to resign as head of the CDU's parliamentary group.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
She was a household name even before she reinvented herself as a reality TV star, with a high profile spell on Strictly Come Dancing, known for her forthright views and no-nonsense attitude.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
You’ve been forthright in saying that’s not necessarily the case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Ms. O’Malley’s initially forthright Orla has come across as a career-driven professional whom Nell suspected of pushing Robin in directions he might not have wanted to go.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
“I know that’s a little forthright, but seriously, how do you know you’re gay?”
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
