plainspoken.

Frank and direct in expression, without elaborate or evasive wording.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• plainspoken account
• plainspoken reply

On the page

Her plainspoken reply stated the objection without disguising it as praise.

The account was plainspoken but still needed corroboration.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Comparative more plainspoken; superlative most plainspoken where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: clarity and ornament, narrative perspective, style analysis. Disciplines: literary writing, narrative analysis, advanced English. Commonness: moderately common.