So that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
Source: tatoeba (47956)
Plainly
/ˈpleɪnli/
Synonyms for "plainly" (189 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
Noun(10 words)
arerebreak throughclear design systemclear explanationclear expressionclear imageclear scientific representationclearly assertclearly defined purposeclearly evidenced
Adjective(3 words)
Verb(1 words)
clear up confusion
Strong matches (57)
Noun(12 words)
clearly labeledevidently trueflat color paintgo straightin simple languageleast complex life formmore signal amendment intentmore unembellishedmore unmistakablemore unornamentedmore unremarkablemost directly
coherentlycommonlycommonplacelycomprehensiblyconspicuouslydefinitelydirectlydiscerniblydistinctlyen familleevidentlyexclusivelyexplicitlyexpresslyfamiliarlyflatfranklyfreelygenuinelyglaringly
Show 17 more words
guilelesslyhonestlyin all consciencein all seriousnessin plain englishin plain termsin plain wordsinformallyingenuouslyintelligiblyjustlimpidlylucidlymanifestlymarkedlymatter-of-factlymerely
Adverb(6 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
express clearly
Related words (94)
Determiner(2 words)
most everydaymost ground level
Noun(9 words)
most evidentmost plain-languagemost readablemost unadornedmost unembellishedsimply wordedstate clearlytalk clearlywrite clearly
Adverb(13 words)
most unicellular organismmost usable itemnonmathematicallyovertlypatentlyplainprosilypublicly funded programsspartanlysquarelytransparentlytshirtilyunembellishedly
naturallynoticeablyobservablyobviouslyoffhandoffhandedlyonlyopenheartedlyopenlyordinarilyostensiblyoutout loudoutrightoutspokenlypalpablypatentlypellucidlyperceivablyperceptibly
Show 43 more words
perspicuouslyplain-spokenlypoint blankpoint-blankprominentlypronouncedlyprosaicallypurelyrecognizablyrelaxedlyroundlysans ceremonieseeablyseverelyshouldersimplysimply and solelysincerelysinglysolelystaringlystarkstarklystraightstraightforwardlyto the pointunaffectedlyunambiguouslyunassuminglyunceremoniouslyunconcealedlyunconstrainedlyunderstandablyundisguisedlyunequivocallyunmistakablyunofficiallyunreservedlyunrestrainedlyvisiblywith claritywith no nonsensewithout ceremony
Adverb(2 words)
Adjective(4 words)
Verb(1 words)
set out facts
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: evidently, obviously, simply, above-board, all joking aside.
- Sentence evidence is available for plainly, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "plainly".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "plainly"
Keep "plainly" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "plainly" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "plainly", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "plainly" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
They were plainly dressed.
Source: tatoeba (306806)
She plainly interpreted Picasso's paintings to me.
Source: tatoeba (314177)
And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
Source: tatoeba (377070)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "plainly"?
Closest matches include evidently, obviously, simply, above-board, all joking aside.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "plainly"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.