candidness
candidness — noun
1. A personal trait of speaking and acting with honesty and directness, especially
A personal trait of speaking and acting with honesty and directness, especially when the truth might cause discomfort for the listener.
Jiwoo appreciated her friend's candidness when she pointed out several flaws in the marketing proposal.
appreciate + candidness (common collocation)
The manager's candidness about the company's financial losses surprised even the senior staff.
candidness + about + topic (preposition pattern)
Constanza's candidness in the interview helped the team see her real concerns about the role.
Patients value a doctor's candidness about treatment risks, even if the truth is hard to hear.
"Your candidness is what this team needs," Asher told the junior designer after the presentation.
- candor
More formal; often used for a specific instance of speaking honestly rather than a general personality trait
- frankness
Emphasises directness and lack of hesitation, especially about sensitive or uncomfortable topics
- straightforwardness
Focuses on clarity and freedom from unnecessary complexity or indirectness
- openness
Broader meaning; can describe willingness to share information, try new things, or consider different ideas
- dishonesty
Opposite in terms of truthfulness; involves hiding or misrepresenting facts
- evasiveness
Opposite in terms of directness; involves avoiding a clear or straight answer
用法筆記
Very similar to candor, but candidness more often describes a person's natural character trait rather than a single act of speaking honestly. In everyday conversation, honesty is far more common than either word.