Link Centre Dictionary

forthright

forth·right

UK/fɔːθˈɹaɪt/ US/ˈfɔɹθˌɹaɪt/ uncommon archaic

adjective

1.

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

  • “blunt talking and straight shooting”
  • “a blunt New England farmer”
  • “I gave them my candid opinion”
  • “forthright criticism”
  • “a forthright approach to the problem”
  • “tell me what you think--and you may just as well be frank”
  • “it is possible to be outspoken without being rude”
  • “plainspoken and to the point”
  • “a point-blank accusation”

adverb

1.

directly and without evasion; not roundabout

  • “to face a problem squarely”
  • “the responsibility lies squarely with them”
  • “spoke forthright (or forthrightly) and to the point”

Origin

From Middle English forthright, forþriʒt, forthricte, from Old English forþrihte (“straightway, at once, plainly”), from forþriht + -e (“adverbial suffix”). By surface analysis, forth + right.

Related words

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.