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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in straightforward
going straight to the point clearly and firmly
a plain report on the current situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of plain
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Another recurring feature of the biggest asset booms is outright chicanery, such as fraudulent accounting, the marketing of worthless securities, and plain old stealing.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Even though temperatures are holding steady at just plain hot during the day here in the South, nighttime temperatures, thankfully, do drop some.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
One of the highest growing regions in Europe is Spain’s Ribera del Duero, which sits on a high plain with vineyard elevations from 2,362 feet to higher than 3,280.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plain
Adjective
How Attorneys Explain The Requirement Immigration scholars emphasize that the modern registration-and-carry regime is more complicated than the plain text suggests.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Another recurring feature of the biggest asset booms is outright chicanery, such as fraudulent accounting, the marketing of worthless securities, and plain old stealing.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Just plain ol’ regular folks ruling the world.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Even though temperatures are holding steady at just plain hot during the day here in the South, nighttime temperatures, thankfully, do drop some.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
Armed conflict on the northern plains increased from the 1850s into the 1860s as white settlers crossed deep into Indian Country, claiming the land and natural resources of Native nations.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
One of the highest growing regions in Europe is Spain’s Ribera del Duero, which sits on a high plain with vineyard elevations from 2,362 feet to higher than 3,280.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plain
Adjective
-
Strufe adds that while intelligence agencies or cybercriminals have simpler ways to monitor people – such as accessing CCTV cameras or video doorbells – the widespread presence of wireless networks could eventually form a near-comprehensive surveillance infrastructure.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The simplest way to find influential people in a network is called degree centrality—just count the number of connections for each person.—
Jack Murtagh,
Scientific American,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The 3,479,500 copies in pure album sales for the first week set a record on Billboard’s sales chart, of course.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
-
When there's no thesis or insight, this series feels dangerously close to pure exploitation of a tragedy real people have endured.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hayes’ family members have been outspoken about their loss.—
Amy Yurkanin,
ProPublica,
9 Oct. 2025
-
This seizure comes just days after Israeli forces intercepted another aid flotilla and arrested the activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, an outspoken critic of Israel.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Installation was quick and straightforward, though our testers did adjust the angle to ensure the panels received enough sunlight during the day.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Saturday’s goals are straightforward.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The triggers for a crash likewise do not generally follow any obvious logic.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Roem and other critics of data center growth see a few obvious goals in Virginia if Spanberger wins — though the would-be governor has not climbed on board with all of them.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
People still are prohibited from carrying guns — openly or concealed — in certain areas, including schools and university campuses; professional athletic events not related to firearms; hospitals; police stations; courts and polling places.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The flag installation is the most recent marketing move by the company as the chain openly embraces more conservative messaging.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The decision covers massive stretches of eastern Montana grasslands, rolling North Dakota prairie, and mountains and tundra of Alaska.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In the 1980s, Nolin and Mutter helped coordinate the restoration of a natural prairie ecosystem at the site.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In that moment, a chain of brake lights in each lane led drivers’ eyes to a pit of flashing lights, just before an empty expanse of road where each car had intended to be but wasn’t.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The photos, released Tuesday by the European Space Agency, show a fuzzy white dot moving against the vast expanse of space.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plain. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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