straightforward
Americanadjective
-
going or directed straight ahead.
a straightforward gaze.
-
not roundabout or evasive; direct.
straightforward criticism;
a straightforward approach to a problem.
-
free from ambiguity; clear.
straightforward instructions.
-
free from crookedness or deceit; honest.
straightforward in one's dealings.
- Antonyms:
- devious
adverb
adjective
-
(of a person) honest, frank, or simple
-
(of a task, etc) simple; easy
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of straightforward
Explanation
Straightforward means direct in your approach. When you have a favor to ask of a friend, don't beat around the bush––say what you need in a straightforward way. If you want to propose marriage, you might go for the straightforward approach, saying, "Want to get married?" over dinner. Straightforward can also mean honest. If you have straightforward intentions, it means you're upfront about what you're trying to do.
Vocabulary lists containing straightforward
Nothing But the Truth
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And Then There Were None
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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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.
The 28-year-old is as straightforward in her approach to kicking, as she is to questions about it.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
During the Cold War and for decades afterward, they focused intensely on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles—high-tech instruments of mass destruction with rare components that were relatively straightforward to trace.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Bonta spokesperson Daniel McGreevy said the bill has a straightforward goal of protecting immigrant service providers.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
For some people, the decision to take a hardship withdrawal is straightforward: They need money for an emergency.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
Thus Copernicanism posed a straightforward question: What sort of planet is the earth?
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
