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.

The government has been outspoken about the challenges of organising fuel supply, noting that widespread corruption makes it even more complicated to get fuel where it needs to go.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Google’s DeepMind AI lab, has been a rare outspoken voice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

It turns out the “Buffy” reboot was fighting its own metaphorical monster: an executive who was outspoken about his lack of love for the original series.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Since ending his playing career in 1987, he has become an outspoken voice in the media, including working for the BBC's Test Match Special.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Russo was the more outspoken war critic, and it had gotten him fired.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

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