1
as in direct
going straight to the point clearly and firmly
a straightforward account of the football game with no digressions or personal comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course
the missile continued on its straightforward path toward the enemy's command post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in honest
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
I want you to be straightforward with me and tell me if this dress looks awful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
the distinction between the two types of offenses is pretty straightforward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also straightforwards
as in straight
in an honest and direct manner
she finally told him straightforward that she wasn't interested in a date
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 straightforward
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2025
Their rules are typically straightforward and easy to learn so that even the youngest players can play without assistance.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Audrey Bruno, SELF, 14 Oct. 2024
While the concept of divestment from Israel appears straightforward—selling off shares of companies with ties to the country—its practical implications are far more complex.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 2 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for straightforward
Adjective
What if the show is actually tweaking tropes played for more straightforward comedy in everything from Just One of the Guys to Back to School?
—Adverb
Despite seeming straightforward, microwaves aren’t standardized, so finding your machine’s power settings in the first place can be confusing, Chen says.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightforward
Adjective
-
By sidestepping the fragile transfer process and enabling direct fabrication on liquid, Xu’s method could transform how scientists design lightweight, adaptable technologies across multiple fields.—
-
Sandurz, an underling of Dark Helmet’s, is not a direct parody of any Star Wars character but plays a part similar to that of General Veers or Admiral Piett in the original series.—
Adjective
-
The idea behind a linear collider is to repeat the basic operation of simpler colliders.—
-
Genome sequencing includes both nuclear DNA -- the large, linear DNA in the cell's nucleus -- and the mitochondrial DNA, the smaller, circular DNA in the mitochondria, which is almost exclusively inherited from the mother.—
Adjective
-
And one Group of 5 staffer was especially honest, politely declining to partake in the survey.—
-
Daniel Jones has been accurate and efficient, and Jonathan Taylor continues to be a workhorse in the backfield, breaking through tackles and keeping defenses honest.—
Adjective
-
Black inks for the same printers tend to have less obvious smearing than the color ink, and many smear just enough to see a smudge, without harming readability.—
-
But Trump’s arbitrary brand of interventionism comes with obvious dangers.—
Adverb
-
These jeans are fashionable and comfortable enough to take me from the airport terminal straight to the office.—
-
The ball missed the bat completely and hit Fry straight in the face.—
Adjective
-
Adaptive fashion has often meant plain and uninspiring clothing.—
-
Cut out shapes, like fruit or animals, or letters from scrap fabric, and stitch them onto a plain shirt or sweatshirt.—
Adjective
-
European captain Luke Donald took a subtle swipe at Team USA during the Ryder Cup opening ceremony, although at least two of the more outspoken Americans had already committed to doing good with the cash.—
-
Khanna, who has been outspoken in support of Palestinians, received in 2024 an award from the Arab American Civil Rights League in Dearborn, delivering a speech that called for an end to the war in Gaza.—
Adjective
-
Precise numbers of staffing cuts are hard to pin down, but their historic scale in the first eight months of this administration is unmistakable.—
-
But some parts are unmistakable.—
Cite this Entry
“Straightforward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightforward. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share