outspoken
Americanadjective
-
uttered or expressed with frankness or without reserve.
outspoken criticism.
-
free or unreserved in speech.
- Antonyms:
- taciturn
verb
adjective
-
candid or bold in speech
-
said or expressed with candour or boldness
Synonym Usage
See frank 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of outspoken
Explanation
If you often freely speak your mind, people may say that you are outspoken. How people view that particular trait in you, however, will depend on whether they agree with what you have to say or not! Use the adjective outspoken to describe someone candid and blunt, one who is direct in manner or speech. If you are an outspoken advocate for arts education in schools, you probably attend lots of school board and community meetings trying to ensure that the board does not cut music and drama from the school curriculum. If you are an outspoken critic of the way your boss does his job, you may not have yours much longer!
Vocabulary lists containing outspoken
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 5
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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.
These unusually outspoken public comments reflect the strain on Russian officials and businessmen who have to navigate the damage to Russia’s economy caused by the war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
The outspoken Okuda, a black belt in karate, also headed Japan's largest business lobby Keidanren and was for years a close government adviser.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Though outspoken and at times overly aggressive, Bycel has made an important contribution to political reform here in Los Angeles,” The Times said in an editorial.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
South Hall is known as one of Eastern’s “dump-off” blocks, where they send rabble-rousers, the outspoken, argumentative prisoners, the ones who have most fallen out of favor with the guards.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Skahaz had been outspoken in his opposition to the queen’s marriage, a fact Hizdahr had not forgotten.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
