unvarnished

adjective

un·​var·​nished ˌən-ˈvär-nisht How to pronounce unvarnished (audio)
Synonyms of unvarnishednext
1
a
: not adorned or glossed : plain, straightforward
told the unvarnished truth
b
: artless, frank
… the unvarnished candor of old people and children.Janet Flanner
2
: not coated with or as if with varnish : crude, unfinished

Examples of unvarnished in a Sentence

If you want my unvarnished opinion, the movie stinks. I'm telling the unvarnished truth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its founder and one-man operator, Jack Kavanagh, is trusted for his unvarnished, unbiased presentation. Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026 Keep in mind that this is private-sector, objective data, based on measurable real-world conditions, unvarnished by politics or anyone’s underlying agenda. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026 Pritzker deserves credit for this unvarnished win. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 After a November 2025 hearing, Glenn Harris called Oklahoma Watch to offer his unvarnished opinion of guardianship judges. Jc Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unvarnished

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of unvarnished was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unvarnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unvarnished. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

unvarnished

adjective
un·​var·​nished ˌən-ˈvär-nisht How to pronounce unvarnished (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not adorned or exaggerated : plain
the unvarnished truth
2
: not varnished
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster