outspoken

American

[out-spoh-kuhn] / ˈaʊtˈspoʊ kən /

adjective

uttered or expressed with frankness or without reserve.

outspoken criticism.
free or unreserved in speech.

Antonyms:

taciturn

verb

past participle of outspeak.

outspoken British

/ ˌaʊtˈspəʊkən /

adjective

candid or bold in speech
said or expressed with candour or boldness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See frank ¹.

Other Word Forms

outspokenly adverb
outspokenness noun
unoutspoken adjective

Etymology

Origin of outspoken

First recorded in 1800–10; out- + spoken

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.

Dimon, the outspoken, longtime JPMorgan boss, has repeatedly warned investors of market and economic turbulence that hasn’t always come to pass.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

The joke here was that Barkley, already known for being outspoken, has been getting kudos for speaking out in favor of immigrants on a CBS broadcast.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Caroline, by contrast, has grown into a bold, outspoken presence.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Lumumba, an outspoken critic of Belgium's colonial rule, became his country's first prime minister after it gained independence in 1960.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

An outspoken abolitionist, Lafayette criticized his American patriot friends for failing to put an end to slavery.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023