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direct

direct

302 3.5
Honest and clear in speech or action
  • adjective
  • /dəˈrɛkt/
translation icon : directo
  • He provided a direct answer to the question, which helped clarify the situation.
  • a direct refusal
  • direct verbal signals
  • direct instructions

I just feel like I'm being direct and honest and clear.

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Examples

  • Your success in life, your results in life are in direct proportion to your habits.

  • And you have to be direct with what you tell your staff.

  • But so yes, you are direct, you are strong.

  • It's the people that hear me when I say something, have direct, clear communication.

  • Your Honor, I have no other direct questions at this time.

  • I just feel like I'm being direct and honest and clear.

  • Clearly, these issues affect citizens in a direct way as they pursue their daily tasks.

    Academic text (1990)
  • As a Westerner, Step was used to a more direct way of doing things.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • After all, you're known for being somewhat direct.

  • I have been in direct communication with HQ in Paris over your little escapade.

Synonyms

straight
vsdirect
388 1.4

Honest and direct in what they say

is about plain honesty rather than moral correctness or fairness
explicit
vsdirect
142 4.8

Clear and detailed so there is no confusion

focuses more on honesty and openness than detailed clarity
frank
vsdirect
104 3.4

Open and honest when giving opinions or feelings

is used more broadly for answers and communication beyond feelings
blunt
vsdirect
100 3.8

Speaking in a direct, plain way that can sound rude

is honest without necessarily sounding rude or harsh
plain
vsdirect
89 2.0

Said in a simple, direct way without hiding the truth

is about honesty and can also mean absolute or final
candid
vsdirect
83 4.6

Open and honest, telling the truth even when it is hard

is general honesty rather than specifically brave truth telling
outspoken
vsdirect
78 4.2

To speak freely and directly about opinions or feelings

is about honesty and truth rather than public expression of views
upfront
vsdirect
59 4.3

Honest and direct about feelings or plans

is the wider term for honesty beyond intentions or feelings
straightforward
vsdirect
51 3.6

Someone who is honest and direct, not hiding anything

is broader, also including absolute or final meanings beyond simple honesty
straight-up
vsdirect
  • Informal
43 7.9

Used to say something is completely honest without exaggeration

is the neutral term for honesty without informal tone
forthright
vsdirect
32 5.5

Being direct and honest when talking or acting

also includes absolute or certain senses beyond mere honesty
unequivocal
vsdirect
  • Formal
24 6.7

Completely clear and leaving no doubt

is mainly about honesty rather than absolute certainty
point-blank
vsdirect
19 5.6

Direct and blunt without trying to hide the truth

is honest but can be less abrupt or potentially offensive
unvarnished
vsdirect
9 7.0

Saying something directly and honestly without hiding the truth

is broader and can include less forceful honest forms
straight-shooting
vsdirect
  • Informal
1 6.3

Someone who speaks clearly and honestly without hiding things

applies more widely to people, answers, or communications generally

Antonyms

31 5.0

Acting in a dishonest way to make people believe something untrue

25 7.3

Not giving a direct answer to hide the truth or avoid commitment

14 4.3

Saying or doing something without being clear

Compounds

direct evidence
  • Specialized
18 3.2

Proof that clearly shows a fact is true, such as an eyewitness report

11 3.2

Printed ads sent by post to possible customers

direct action
  • Jargon
10 5.5

A protest where people act directly, for example by blocking a road or factory, to reach their goals

5 6.5

A lawyer asking questions of a witness they called before the other side asks questions

direct correlation
  • Specialized
5 4.2

A relationship where two things increase or decrease together

A plane journey between two places that may stop but uses the same plane

A way of sending advertising messages directly to individual customers, for example by email

direct current
  • Specialized
3 3.5

An electric flow that moves steadily in one direction, for example from a battery

direct cost
  • Specialized
2 3.4

A cost you can put on a single project, like materials or wages

2 4.6

Money from a company or person in one country used to buy and control a business in another country

A clear and strong difference between two things

direct tax
  • Specialized
2 4.2

A tax that a person or business pays directly to the government, not added to the price of goods

1 3.5

A loan a lender gives straight to a borrower without a middle person

direct fire
  • Specialized
1 7.7

Shooting at a target you can see with weapons like a tank or rifle

direct proof
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A way to show something is true by using known facts and simple logical steps

The exact words someone said or wrote shown in quotation marks

A person or company that sends ads by mail to sell things

A word or group of words that names people and things and receives the action of a verb

5.5

An engine that sends diesel fuel straight into the part where it burns to use less fuel

A diesel engine that injects fuel directly into the chamber where it burns

A primary election where voters choose candidates instead of party officials

A word that means the exact opposite of another word

direct bill of lading
  • Specialized
8.9

A paper showing the goods stay on the same ship without transfer

direct discourse
  • Specialized
6.3

Repeating the exact words someone said or thought, usually in quote marks

direct dye
  • Specialized
5.4

A dye that colours cotton and similar fabrics without using a fixing chemical

3.6

An electric flow that moves in one direction and does not reverse

direct sum
  • Specialized
8.7

A way of joining two sets or spaces so each new item has one part from each

Fire from guns or artillery that helps one group of soldiers during combat

7.4

Help from one military unit to another that answers the other unit's requests for help

Help given by a company or maker straight to a customer

direct tide
  • Specialized
8.4

A high water level on the side of Earth facing the moon

direct transmission
  • Specialized
3.7

Spread of infection from one person to another when someone touches or coughs on them

direct traffic
  • Texting
3.8

Visits to a website that come from people typing the address or using a bookmark

direct trust
  • Formal
6.7

An arrangement set up by people on purpose, often in writing, to control money and property

8.9

A former UK school that charged fees but accepted some students funded by the local council

A U.S. military kit that turns a regular bomb dropped from a plane into a precise guided bomb

How Direct

blunt
100 3.8
direct
302 3.5
candid
83 4.6

Surface Forms

direct positive
directer comparative
directest superlative

Etymology

Direct comes from a root meaning 'straight', which also gives the idea of being clear and plain. That's why a direct answer is honest and straightforward, like speaking in a straight line.