1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word candid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of candid are frank, open, and plain. While all these words mean "showing willingness to tell what one feels or thinks," candid suggests expression marked by sincerity and honesty especially in offering unwelcome criticism or opinion.

a candid appraisal

When would frank be a good substitute for candid?

The synonyms frank and candid are sometimes interchangeable, but frank stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of tact or expedience.

frank discussions

How is open related to other words for candid?

Open implies frankness but suggests more indiscretion than frank and less earnestness than candid.

open in saying what they think

When might plain be a better fit than candid?

The words plain and candid can be used in similar contexts, but plain suggests outspokenness and freedom from affectation or subtlety in expression.

plain talk

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 candid This ongoing initiative will foster candid discussions on topics like business, work-life balance and wellness. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 Just yesterday, Alix got candid on Instagram about ditching face makeup for a week. Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 8 Apr. 2025 In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, Sidibe shared her candid and funny take on parenting her twins, Cooper and Maya. Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Apr. 2025 However, Kilmer was candid during the final years of his life, letting fans inside his legendary career with a revealing 2020 memoir and an intimate 2021 documentary. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for candid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candid
Adjective
  • The outspoken mother, who has clashed with Rock in the past, quickly went on to reiterate her desire for Blueface to enter a relationship with rap star Megan Thee Stallion, a hope that she’s expressed on previous occasions.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The world’s richest man also used the R-word to insult the intelligence of Navarro, an economic populist who is one of the most outspoken advocates for higher import taxes designed to protect American manufacturing.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Most golf fans with no real allegiance were rooting for McIlroy to complete the Slam after more than a decade of failures at Augusta National, just as most impartial baseball fans rooted for the 2016 Cubs to beat Cleveland and end their 107-year championship drought.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The surprise move marked another unexpected twist in a long-running drama at the state Capitol as the state’s electric utilities battle fiercely against Gillett, a Simsbury attorney who critics say acts like a consumer advocate instead of an impartial utility regulator.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The album is raw, honest, and deeply personal—a sonic letter to women and their stories, both told and untold.
    Nour Ezzedine, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • This accountability between sustainability initiatives and resilience among uncertainty is sparking more honest conversations, leading to more realistic goal setting and, ultimately, more meaningful progress.
    Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Culture community aimed at creating equitable business pathways for Black and Brown professionals.
    Brianne Garrett, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Like his Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, who spearheaded trade reform, Roosevelt understood that tariffs were a tax on poor and working Americans and regarded the use of the progressive income tax as a much more equitable—and economically advantageous—means of raising revenue.
    Time, Time, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Meghan Markle’s new podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, is officially here, and the Duchess of Sussex opens the series with a frank conversation with her friend, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.
    Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Van Tassell and his Board of Trustees spent months in frank discussions about the mission of the school.
    Karen Weaver, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • As of last May, filings with the state of Texas indicated that 78% of CFP Administration LLC’s ownership was held in equal 15.6% shares by the Big Ten, ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • That is: when revenues (the top line) fluctuate, all other things held equal, Delta's earnings should not swing as widely as American's due to lower operating leverage.
    GuruFocus, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The trio is set to lead the streamer’s forthcoming Pride and Prejudice adaptation, a six-part limited-series take on Jane Austen’s beloved novel, TVLine has confirmed.
    Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The forthcoming decision was welcomed by Gilles Bissonnette, the legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire, who said that Liu can now continue studying and working computer science.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Candid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candid. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on candid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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