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Synonyms

unvarnished

American  
[uhn-vahr-nisht] / ʌnˈvɑr nɪʃt /

adjective

  1. plain; clear; straightforward; without vagueness or subterfuge; frank.

    the unvarnished truth.
    Synonyms:
    direct, candid, naked, bare

  2. unfinished, as floors or furniture; not coated with or as if with varnish.

unvarnished British  
/ ʌnˈvɑːnɪʃt /

adjective

  1. not elaborated upon or glossed; plain and direct

    the unvarnished truth
"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

Etymology

Origin of unvarnished

First recorded in 1595–1605; un- 1 + varnish + -ed 3, -ed 2

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.

Edward Niedermeyer, author of “Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors,” said Musk was happy to benefit from California’s largess when it suited him and to move on when he saw fit.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

Subtitled as "Unpublished, Unvarnished, and Told by the Beatles and Their Inner Circle," Brown and Gaines’ latest book makes a substantial contribution to the historical record.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2024

Unvarnished but heartfelt, the songs vividly sketch a life lived on the margins: "How come sleepin' in the car only filled me with drive?" he asks on Glory.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2021

“I’m puzzled as to where the confidence came from almost four years ago that they’d be able to do this,” said Niedermeyer, who wrote the 2019 book “Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 21, 2020

“Therapy, hah! Unvarnished flattery is what you hand out—and they eat it up with a trowel. Disgusting! Why couldn’t you have gone into law like your father?”

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

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.