forthright
Americanadjective
-
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
- forthrightness noun
- unforthright adjective
Etymology
Origin of forthright
before 1000; Middle English; Old English forthrihte. See forth, right
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.
The problem is that Europe refuses to be forthright about the nature of its own strategy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
But she did blame the Defense Department for not being more forthright about when and how the fighting would end.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
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 • Mar. 8, 2026
Nevertheless, the call from Angela Rayner, Sir Keir's former deputy, for Labour to take this as a "wake up call" and become "braver" was notably forthright.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
Holmes broke them all—and with such forthright lack of shame that it became clear to Myrta that the rules must be different in Chicago.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
