1
as in simple
free from all additions or embellishment
I like my hamburgers plain, with no ketchup or relish just give us the plain facts and none of your snide comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pure
free from added matter
I'd prefer my pasta plain, not flavored with tomato or spinach or anything else
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outspoken
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
their piano teacher is honest and plain, if not always tactful
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in straightforward
going straight to the point clearly and firmly
a plain report on the current situation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
let me make my meaning plain
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner
told her plain that he loved her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in prairie
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country
the first settlers in that area lived on the vast plains in lonely log cabins
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2
as in expanse
a wide space or area
the vast plains of snow-covered earth that seemed to stretch endlessly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plain
Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2025
However, plain baking soda may be harsh for everyday use and could cause discomfort in people with sensitive teeth or mouths.3
Using a toothpaste that includes baking soda as an ingredient may be safer and more pleasant for daily use.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
Elissa Kelly, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Once upon a time, owning a Tesla signaled that a driver was tech-savvy, eco-conscious, or just plain rich.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 13 Mar. 2025
Paul Caputo, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Windy conditions are expected to contribute to fire danger across the urban corridor and plains through the weekend, forecasters said.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plain
Adjective
As a review of the office’s extraordinary history makes plain, this decision needs to be urgently revisited.
—Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2025
However, plain baking soda may be harsh for everyday use and could cause discomfort in people with sensitive teeth or mouths.3
Using a toothpaste that includes baking soda as an ingredient may be safer and more pleasant for daily use.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
Adverb
These actions and judgments, considered misguided or plain wrong, embody one common thing: Mistakes can be avoided.
—Elissa Kelly, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Once upon a time, owning a Tesla signaled that a driver was tech-savvy, eco-conscious, or just plain rich.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
An ambitious land reclamation project started in the the late 19th century was completed in 1943, the result of which is a large plain of very fertile farm land.
—Paul Caputo, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Windy conditions are expected to contribute to fire danger across the urban corridor and plains through the weekend, forecasters said.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain
Adjective
-
That simplicity feels so apt for this show, There's enough here: The production is simple and sweet, while Jonas and Warren exude a certain magnetism.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
But an attack can be much simpler — and can stop once a user has given away their credentials.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The latest tool used by winemakers to show off the pure terroir of their grapes is the Wineglobe, a 100 percent glass orb to vinify and age wine.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2025
-
To suggest that the cartels might import coca leaves to extract cocaine makes about as much sense as suggesting that someone would import Dom Perignon to secure by chemical processing pure extracts of ethyl alcohol.—
Wade Davis,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2025
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
-
But several of the most outspoken opponents of the Senate resolution said they either weren't invited to the meeting or declined to attend.—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The economic case for implementing those other policies is more straightforward than the case for tariffs.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
In a season obsessed with the impact of money on a person’s soul, whether scarcity can be as much a motivator as abundance, and the dilemma of what happens after giving one’s brother a hand job, Rick’s story was perhaps the most straightforward.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In its wildest moments, Coogler’s film seems like a collision of Lovecraft Country with True Blood, though more obvious comparisons will likely be drawn to From Dusk Till Dawn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Entertainment Fans of the show on social media seem to be missing a lot of crucial character development, and there’s an obvious explanation why.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
What do beef tallow, prairie dresses and the quiet luxury trend all have in common?—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Surrounded by expressways and suburban homes, the prairie escaped waves of suburban development in the 20th century and was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 1980.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
From colorful stripes to designs on the expanse of the nail, the simple base can offer variations according to current trends.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Vogue,
12 Apr. 2025
-
The Keep is just that good, despite being laid out on a rocky expanse of land that Bergin, who has been involved in more than 100 course projects, says wasn’t exactly made for golf.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
8 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
Cite this Entry
“Plain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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