plainest
plainest — adjective
- plainestpositive
- more plainestcomparative
- most plainestsuperlative
1. having the least decoration, colour, pattern, or extra features; the most simple
having the least decoration, colour, pattern, or extra features; the most simple in style.
Mei-Lin chose the plainest white dress for her wedding, without any lace or beads.
the plainest + noun pattern for most simple version
Among all the cakes on display, the plainest one — a simple sponge — sold out first.
The architect designed the plainest possible building, using only concrete and glass.
Kwame prefers the plainest phone case he can find, just solid black with no logo.
This room is the plainest in the house, with white walls and no curtains.
- simplest
overlaps but 'simplest' emphasises lack of complexity; 'plainest' emphasises lack of decoration
- most basic
more informal; focuses on having only essential features
- most unadorned
more formal; specifically means without decoration
- most decorated
direct opposite
- most elaborate
suggests complex detail rather than simplicity
文法句型
the plainest + noun
常見錯誤
2. (of paper) having no printed lines, grid marks, or ruled guides; completely blan
(of paper) having no printed lines, grid marks, or ruled guides; completely blank.
The art teacher asked us to bring the plainest paper, with no lines at all.
the plainest + paper collocation for unlined paper
For her calligraphy practice, Fatima uses the plainest notebook pages without any grid marks.
The printer was set to the plainest paper option, skipping the ruled template.
Yuna wrote her final poem on the plainest page she owned, wanting no distractions.
- blankest
emphasises emptiness rather than lack of lines specifically
- most unruled
technical term for paper without lines; less common
- most lined
paper with printed lines
- most ruled
formal term for paper with guide lines
文法句型
the plainest + paper / page / notebook
用法筆記
This sense applies almost exclusively to paper, notebooks, and other writing surfaces. In other contexts 'plainest' defaults to sense 1 (SIMPLE UNDECORATED).
3. the most clear and easy to see, hear, or understand; not hidden, doubtful, or co
the most clear and easy to see, hear, or understand; not hidden, doubtful, or complicated.
The plainest sign of the storm was how the trees bent sideways in the wind.
the plainest + sign for most obvious indication
The plainest clue was the footprint left in the mud by the back door.
To Henry, the plainest reason for the loss was the team's lack of practice.
The plainest evidence of the leak was the water stain spreading across the ceiling.
When asked why she cried, the plainest answer was that she missed her home.
- clearest
more general; 'plainest' adds a sense of being unmistakable
- most obvious
interchangeable, but 'plainest' is more emphatic and slightly informal
- most evident
more formal; suggests something is proven rather than just visible
- most hidden
direct opposite in terms of visibility
- most unclear
opposite in terms of understandability
文法句型
the plainest + noun (sign/reason/evidence/truth/answer)
常見錯誤
4. the most complete or absolute version of something negative or extreme, used to
the most complete or absolute version of something negative or extreme, used to add strong emphasis and express disapproval.
What Diego said during the meeting was the plainest nonsense I have ever heard.
the plainest + nonsense for emphatic disapproval
To call his behaviour merely unusual would be too kind — it was the plainest dishonesty.
Leaving a job without a backup plan was the plainest foolishness Chen had witnessed.
The plainest truth is that we cannot afford a vacation this year.
Refusing to wear a seatbelt is the plainest stupidity on a long highway drive.
- most utter
stronger and more formal, but less common
- most absolute
overlaps, but 'plainest' carries a more conversational, emphatic tone
- sheerest
used with similar abstract nouns ('sheerest nonsense') but sounds more literary
文法句型
the plainest + abstract noun (nonsense/dishonesty/truth/stupidity/foolishness)
用法筆記
In this sense 'plainest' always precedes an abstract noun (nonsense, truth, stupidity, dishonesty, foolishness) and functions as a strong intensifier. It is more common in spoken English than formal writing. The nouns it modifies are almost always negative in tone.
常見錯誤
5. judged to have the least conventional physical beauty within a particular group
judged to have the least conventional physical beauty within a particular group or family; the least attractive in appearance (now widely considered dated and potentially offensive).
In the old novel, the heroine was described as the plainest of three sisters.
the plainest of + group for comparison of looks
Tired of being called the plainest girl, Amara started a campaign against judging looks.
In the 19th-century novel, Cinderella is the plainest of the household, overlooked by her stepsisters.
Sofia wrote about being labelled the plainest of the cousins in her memoir on self-image.
Noa's grandmother recalled being called 'the plainest of the family' — a memory that still stung.
Readers dislike fairy tales that rank women as the plainest or prettiest.
- most ordinary-looking
less harsh but still potentially unkind
- least conventionally attractive
more neutral and precise
- most beautiful
direct opposite
- most striking
suggests distinctive, memorable appearance
文法句型
the plainest + woman/girl/daughter/sister
the plainest of + group
用法筆記
This sense encompasses both the direct adjective use ('the plainest woman') and the noun-like 'of the group' construction ('the plainest of the family'). It is almost always applied to women and girls, reflecting older social attitudes that equated a woman's value with her looks. Both forms are increasingly recognised as outdated and potentially hurtful. Modern speakers avoid using 'plain' to describe a person's appearance. If you need a neutral term, use 'unconventional-looking' or describe specific features rather than making a value judgement.
常見錯誤
6. the most direct, honest, and straightforward in speech, without trying to soften
the most direct, honest, and straightforward in speech, without trying to soften the truth or spare someone's feelings.
Omar gave the plainest possible answer: the project would fail without more funding.
the plainest possible + noun for most direct version
Among all the advisors, Deepa offered the plainest assessment of what had actually gone wrong.
The plainest advice my father ever gave me was to save money before spending it.
Jack's response was the plainest of all — he simply said no and explained the reasons.
Sari appreciated her doctor's plainest explanation of the risks, without hiding anything.
- most straightforward
very close; 'plainest' feels more personal and down-to-earth
- most candid
more formal; implies honesty even when it's uncomfortable
- most blunt
more negative; suggests the speaker is rude or tactless
- most indirect
opposite in communication style
- most diplomatic
implies softening the truth to be polite
文法句型
the plainest + noun (answer/advice/response/assessment/speaking)
用法筆記
This sense is generally positive — being 'plain-spoken' is considered a virtue in many cultures. However, 'the plainest' version of something can sometimes sound harsh or blunt. Distinguish from sense 3 (OBVIOUS): sense 3 describes a fact that is easy to notice ('a plain sign'), while sense 6 describes a person's style of communication ('a plain answer').
常見錯誤
plainest — adverb
1. in the most absolute or complete way; used to emphasise how extreme a quality or
in the most absolute or complete way; used to emphasise how extreme a quality or situation is.
Of all the wrong answers the students submitted, Yuki's was the plainest wrong.
ranking frame: 'of all X, Y was the plainest wrong'
Of all the misleading statements in the report, the CEO's denial was the plainest dishonest.
Of all the bad ideas for the new product, the pink packaging was the plainest foolish.
Walking into a client meeting without any preparation was the plainest foolish thing he did.
- most absolutely
more formal and correct in standard written English
- just
simpler and more common, but less emphatic ('just wrong' vs 'the plainest wrong')
文法句型
the plainest + adjective (wrong/impossible/ridiculous/stupid/foolish)
the plainest + past participle
用法筆記
As a superlative adverb, 'plainest' is very informal and used mainly in spoken English or casual writing. It appears most naturally in comparative/ranking contexts ('of all X, Y was the plainest wrong') and always modifies an adjective or past participle that expresses a strong negative judgement (wrong, impossible, ridiculous, stupid, foolish). It cannot be used with positive adjectives ('the plainest wonderful' is not idiomatic). The base form 'plain' (as in 'plain wrong' or 'just plain stupid') is far more common than this superlative.