adv ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Adverb

1. 1
   In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt.

   "to speak frankly"

2. 2
   In truth, to tell the truth.

   "Most of what they said was, frankly, a pack of lies."

3. 3
   To a degree large enough as to be plainly evident.

   "frankly septic"

Adverb

1. 1
   (used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

candidlyhonestlylegitimatelysimplytrulytruthfully

Antonyms

All antonyms

dishonestlydisingenuously

Example

More examples

"Say frankly what, in your own eyes, is right."

Etymology

From frank + -ly.

Related phrases

in truthtell truth

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.