CANDIDLY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

candidly

adverb

Definition of candidly

as in openly

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of candidly John Stamos is speaking candidly about his experience with plastic surgery. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 Players were allowed to offer multiple responses to each prompt and were granted anonymity in order to speak candidly. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 24 June 2026 In a joint interview with his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, the president candidly discussed aging. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 25 June 2026 In an Instagram post on Wednesday, June 24, Samantha shared photos of her and Kyle's two kids and spoke candidly about how her life as a mom has changed since her husband's death. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 Hearing Usha praise Vance’s ability to make nice may come as a surprise to political junkies who have watched Vance struggle to control his anger in public—something the vice president himself has written candidly about in the past. — Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026 The social media influencer spoke candidly about her grief journey in a June 17 episode on Jay Shetty's podcast, marking her first interview since her son Trigg's drowning death last May. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Fencker met with White House lawyers and other Administration officials, and candidly discussed his grievances with Denmark and possible paths forward for Greenland and the United States. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 The axe came down swiftly and brutally, but, speaking candidly, Geoff Daniels, PBS’ Vice President, Programming & Development, was gracious about it, thanking the audience of mostly media industry people for their camaraderie. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidly

Adverb

Both of the soon-to-be newlyweds have talked openly about wanting to have kids.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
On top of that, Kelce appeared on the cover of GQ magazine and spoke openly about his and Swift’s relationship for the first time with a major publication.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 July 2026

Definition of openly

Adverb

Professionals who communicate honestly, understand emotions, recognize their unique value, and consistently earn trust will thrive.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Budget honestly for a setup that typically runs $500 to $2,000 before recurring feed and bedding costs.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of honestly

Adverb

And thirdly, the confidence Harley has in its 2026 bikes to facilitate such a thing, and on a wet racetrack no less, is quite frankly amazing.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
But this documentary makes the point that this was a bloody, years-long battle that claimed so many lives and that, frankly, impacted every single person on this territory.

— NBC news, NBC news, 5 July 2026

Definition of frankly

Adverb

Foley has been the one board member who has forthrightly stood up for oversight and accountability on every key issue.

— The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Coming off the ice, Malinin forthrightly congratulated the winner, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan, as if to communicate that Shaidorov won the prize from his own efforts, not from Malinin’s failure.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Definition of forthrightly

Adverb

Pinney’s fantasies and visual metaphors are sometimes more poignant in concept than in execution, and a theme of Ray’s crude racist impulses is baldly inserted but left undeveloped.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Premiering the first of eight episodes on Sunday, March 22, The Comeback’s shaggy, despairing, hilarious, and sometimes baldly sentimental third season spends its first two episodes running through all the horsemen of the Hollywood-pocalypse.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

Definition of baldly

Adverb

That doesn’t mean that Holocaust educators are unreservedly enthusiastic about the new approach.

— Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
The love songs that set its mood are unreservedly sexy and most of all funny — including that dirty ‘Wood’ — expressing genuine affection and delight.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025

Definition of unreservedly

Adverb

Now, fresh off one of the most straightforwardly terrible albums of the decade, here comes the Muse Mothership again.

— Liam Inscoe-Jones, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
Perhaps the cleanest rebuke of noisy nativism would be for England to win, and, if Tuchel can take that final step that eluded Southgate, he’ll be immortalized, too—perhaps in a prestige miniseries of his own, and a more straightforwardly triumphal one at that.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

Definition of straightforwardly

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“Candidly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of candidly

adverb

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