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outspokenness

outspokenness

2 6.3
Saying your thoughts and feelings freely, often in a direct way
  • noun
  • /aʊtˈspoʊkənəs/
translation icon : franqueza
  • Her outspokenness often leads to honest discussions about important issues.

Examples

  • Although his politics might not naturally cause him to side with Neilson, his outspokenness is certainly evident in his summing up.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Anna's outspokenness and her ability to articulate her hatred and anger fascinated me.

    Academic text (2000)
  • His outspokenness could be refreshing.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Her passion for justice and outspokenness, however, was hardly out of place in the first century of Islam.

    Blog text (19)
  • Kudos to you for your outspokenness in this.

    Blog text (15)
  • Wahid's outspokenness against the government encouraged students to continue their protests and to take them outside the campus gates to the streets.

    Academic text (2004)
  • At times, I can't help but wonder if our political climate has become so divided that my outspokenness here has hindered me.

    Blog text (22)
  • Among his fellow flu researchers, Jefferson's outspokenness has made him something of a pariah.

    Blog text (13)
  • On the other hand, his outspokenness against financial interests makes him appealing to all but the most radical fringe of the anti-vaccination movement.

    Blog text (13)
  • Dom Oba and Carolina were both Black Brazilians who were marginalized by elite society for their outspokenness and were denigrated as inadapted or even crazy.

    Academic text (1997)

Synonyms

openness
vsoutspokenness
22 3.5

Being honest and clear about your actions and intentions

focuses more on freely expressing opinions and sometimes blunt feelings
assertiveness
vsoutspokenness
8 4.6

The quality of being confident and direct when saying what you think or want

centers more on freely sharing feelings than on confident force
frankness
vsoutspokenness
7 3.5

Open and honest talk that says exactly what you think

is similarly open but often includes stronger blunt feeling
bluntness
vsoutspokenness
6 4.8

A direct and honest way of speaking that can seem rude

shares directness but is more about freely sharing feelings
directness
vsoutspokenness
6 3.4

Honest, clear words and actions that say exactly what you mean

is similar but often adds emotional bluntness to that clarity
forthrightness
vsoutspokenness
3 6.6

A way of speaking that is honest and direct

is comparable but often adds blunt emotional expression
forcefulness
vsoutspokenness
2 5.1

A strong, clear, and confident quality in speech, action, or physical strength

is similar in strength but focuses more on open feeling sharing
candidness
vsoutspokenness
1 5.1

An honest and open way of speaking or acting

is like this but tends to be more blunt or forceful
blunt honesty
vsoutspokenness
1 3.9

Saying the truth in a direct way that may hurt people

is similar but often also emphasizes open feeling and freedom
parrhesia
vsoutspokenness
  • Jargon
1 9.9

Speaking openly and boldly when it risks angering people in charge

shares boldness but mainly describes freely shared opinions without risk
downrightness
vsoutspokenness
6.7

An open and direct way of speaking or acting

leans more toward blunt emotional expression alongside plainness
unvarnished honesty
vsoutspokenness
5.5

Very direct and truthful speech that does not soften the facts

adds a stronger sense of freely expressed feelings alongside bluntness
freeness
vsoutspokenness
5.4

An open and honest way of speaking or acting

is like this but often includes more blunt emotional force
vocality
vsoutspokenness
7.4

Being willing to speak openly and share opinions

is similar but typically delivers opinions in a blunter way
self-assertion
vsoutspokenness
6.9

To speak up confidently and defend your own opinions or rights

is more about open feeling expression than forceful defense
self-assertiveness
vsoutspokenness
6.3

Confidently saying what you think or want in a firm way

leans more toward open free expression rather than bold force

Antonyms

10 7.8

A feeling of not wanting to speak or share thoughts

How Outspoken

bluntness
6 4.8
outspokenness
2 6.3
frankness
7 3.5
openness
35 3.9

Surface Forms

outspokenness singular

Morphology

outspokenness = outspoken (transparent) = out + speak + en + ness

The adjective 'outspoken' (out + speak + -en) clearly yields the noun by the productive suffix '-ness' meaning 'the quality of'.

Etymology

Outspokenness comes from out- ('out' or 'outside') plus speak ('to say') and the noun ending -ness, and is like the adjective outspoken. So, outspokenness is the quality of 'speaking out', or saying your thoughts openly and directly.