plain-spoken
Americanadjective
-
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.
Luna remains further above the political fray, favoring plain-spoken assertions about his commitment to the rights and safety of county residents, deputies and inmates alike.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
John Fetterman’s blue-collar wardrobe and plain-spoken progressivism once made him a star.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
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
No sooner did she think of her dress than one of the housemaids, a short and plain-spoken girl whom everyone called Susan, came by the nursery with a message.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
