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
- 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
How forthright Japan's first woman premier can afford to be in their March 19 meeting, and how receptive the 79-year-old Trump will be, remain to be seen however.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
She’s forthright with her interest in depravity, and as such, her films make no effort to conceal their degeneracies or shock the viewer.
From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026
Burger decided to be forthright with Dasch about his trouble with the Gestapo.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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.
