frankly

adverb

frank·​ly ˈfraŋ-klē How to pronounce frankly (audio)
1
: in a frank manner
spoke frankly
2
: in truth : indeed
frankly, I don't know

Examples of frankly in a Sentence

You can speak frankly to us. frankly, I'd rather stay at home than go to the movies tonight
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.
That’s a shaky accomplishment to be proud of, frankly. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025 The key to success often lies in effective marketing, but for many writers, the thought of self-promotion is overwhelming, confusing, and, frankly, unappealing. Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025 Inevitably, the discussion turned to the wrecking-ball presidency of Donald Trump and his autocratic and, frankly, un-American penchant for siccing the government on his political foes. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025 How can women financially prepare for systems that, frankly, still weren’t built with them in mind? Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frankly

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frankly was in 1537

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frankly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frankly. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

frankly

adverb
frank·​ly ˈfraŋ-klē How to pronounce frankly (audio)
1
: in a frank manner
you can speak frankly to us
2
: to tell the truth
frankly, I don't think it's wise
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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