plain-spoken
Americanadjective
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candid; frank; blunt.
-
using simple, direct language.
a plain-spoken politician.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of plain-spoken
First recorded in 1670–80
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.
Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran, rocketed to the top of the Democratic field with a message of plain-spoken populism.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Many of the AI country tunes tap into the genre's archetype of the lone cowboy: a rugged, taciturn, plain-spoken man who, above all, refuses to apologize for simply existing.
From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026
A simple line, but it brought the house down because of the plain-spoken truth Walz has swiftly become famous for.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2024
McCarthy was a fan favorite at LAFC, as much for his plain-spoken, hard-nosed personality as for his play in goal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2024
The gardener, a young, plain-spoken fellow, gestured toward his wheelbarrow.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
