1
as in openly
in an honest and direct manner
you'll have to tell your relatives very plainly that you don't like perfume, or they'll keep giving it to you
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in certainly
without any question
your wife is plainly upset that you didn't invite her to the game with us
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plainly
Such an arrest is plainly inconsistent with basic First Amendment principles.
—
Nina Totenberg, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
The inference, plainly, is that is not the case at the moment.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Brian McClendon, Niantic Spatial’s chief technology officer and one of the original creators of Google Earth, explains the data strategy plainly.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Put plainly, every Democratic candidate of color was left out.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 17 Mar. 2026
The broader ambition — connecting TIFF’s programming function, TIFFCOM’s market function and Film Frontier’s talent development function into a single coherent system — is something Ikeda states plainly.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Now Conan O’Brien, who spent almost 30 years behind late-night desks, is saying plainly what many viewers have sensed.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
This is a day for speaking plainly and clearing up lingering misunderstandings.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Quincy Magoo could plainly see that Darnell Nurse knocked Nathan MacKinnon straight into Connor Ingram’s noggin.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Nina Totenberg, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
The inference, plainly, is that is not the case at the moment.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Brian McClendon, Niantic Spatial’s chief technology officer and one of the original creators of Google Earth, explains the data strategy plainly.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Put plainly, every Democratic candidate of color was left out.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 17 Mar. 2026
The broader ambition — connecting TIFF’s programming function, TIFFCOM’s market function and Film Frontier’s talent development function into a single coherent system — is something Ikeda states plainly.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Now Conan O’Brien, who spent almost 30 years behind late-night desks, is saying plainly what many viewers have sensed.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
This is a day for speaking plainly and clearing up lingering misunderstandings.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Quincy Magoo could plainly see that Darnell Nurse knocked Nathan MacKinnon straight into Connor Ingram’s noggin.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plainly
Adverb
-
After nearly 40 years in law enforcement, Harvey spoke openly about the toll a career in public service can take.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
People were talking about pregaming alliances very openly this season.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Gonzales is certainly a name to watch in Charlotte’s quarterback battle, throwing for 6,682 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions spanning three years at Western Carolina.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
For families While the friendly staff and spacious rooms are certainly hospitable to families, the overall vibe takes its cues from the neighborhood–chic, cool, and largely for adults.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
But it’s played sincerely, so the visual contrast just makes the connection feel clumsy, if not outright absurd.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
But the few times they’re forced to play their hurt feelings sincerely are as forced as the moment when Grace zips her gory wedding gown back on before it’s even been washed.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Their vile chants are surely loud enough to be heard from 25 feet away.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
If one door closes, another one will surely open, and that is what 000 reminds us.—
Olivia Munson,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Not a lot of acts are going for broke right now, especially when plenty of musicians are just plain broke.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Bread flour, whole wheat flour, all‑purpose white flour, masa, purple cornmeal, medium‑ground yellow cornmeal, plain fine cornmeal, semolina flour, barley flour, and sorghum flour.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
There are nearby fishing villages that are definitely worth visiting, but no other places to stay within a 30-minute drive.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Oh no, they’re definitely entwined.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
These days, balancing the press with writing is honestly a gift.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Which, honestly, only makes the whole thing funnier.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Collaborate thoughtfully, and document next steps clearly.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Bauers clearly hit the base square in the middle, and the call was quickly overturned, leading to laughs from both managers, the Rays’ Kevin Cash and the Brewers’ Pat Murphy.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plainly. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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