straightforward
1 of 2adjective
straight·for·ward ˌstrāt-ˈfȯr-wərd 
ˈstrāt-ˌfȯr-
1
a
: free from evasiveness or obscurity : exact, candid
a straightforward account
b
: clear-cut, precise
2
: proceeding in a straight course or manner : direct, undeviating
straightforwardly adverb
straightforwardness noun
straightforward
2 of 2adverb
variants or less commonly straightforwards
ˌstrāt-ˈfȯr-wərdz
: in a straightforward manner
Synonyms
Adjective
- direct
- forthright
- foursquare
- plain
- straight
Adverb
- directly
- forthrightly
- foursquare
- plain
- plainly
- straight
- straightforwardly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective Using the computer program is fairly straightforward. He was very straightforward with us. She gave a straightforward account of what happened. Adverb she finally told him straightforward that she wasn't interested in a date
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlin Marks, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 The plot of this survival thriller is pretty straightforward. Andy Meek, BGR, 2 Aug. 2022 The best ways to clean a microwave are pretty straightforward. Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2022 Their lack of compassion is pretty straightforward. Annie Lane, cleveland, 26 July 2022 Though setup presented challenges via a defective screw, the assembly was pretty straightforward. Madison Yauger, PEOPLE.com, 22 July 2022 For American sports fans, 99 percent of the year can be pretty straightforward. Hayden Bird, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022 While the concept of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is pretty straightforward, coming at it from the other direction, by pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, is more complicated. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 The service is pretty straightforward: The digital Pup Passport resides on your phone and guides you to confirmed dog-friendly spots. oregonlive, 9 July 2022 The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2022 Setting the stage with a presence that moved beyond the digital world, Darrison gave in-person audience goers straightforward call-to-action tactics to kick up digital and social media marketing for their business. Tiyana Jordan, Essence, 5 Aug. 2022 Our testers found the three-step setup to be simple to follow and scheduling routines straightforward. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 14 July 2022 But the distinction isn’t always so straightforward. Michael Johnston, The New Yorker, 14 July 2022 That said, finding the right hair brush for your hair type isn’t always so straightforward. Deanna Pai, Glamour, 23 June 2022 But anyone who has driven a car knows that traffic situations aren’t always so straightforward. Jaclyn Trop, Fortune, 14 June 2022 The solution might have seemed straightforward: Ease back on Gomez's signature style, perhaps drape her in dull hues or pedestrian basics. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 7 Dec. 2020 Clearly, Marvel is taking a bit more of an ambitious road than simply going straightforward. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 11 May 2022 See More
Adjective
The navigation on YouTube TV is pretty straightforward, allowing users to search for specific titles and switch from the platform's home screen to live channels to their personal library. Kaitlin Marks, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022 The plot of this survival thriller is pretty straightforward. Andy Meek, BGR, 2 Aug. 2022 The best ways to clean a microwave are pretty straightforward. Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2022 Their lack of compassion is pretty straightforward. Annie Lane, cleveland, 26 July 2022 Though setup presented challenges via a defective screw, the assembly was pretty straightforward. Madison Yauger, PEOPLE.com, 22 July 2022 For American sports fans, 99 percent of the year can be pretty straightforward. Hayden Bird, BostonGlobe.com, 19 July 2022 While the concept of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is pretty straightforward, coming at it from the other direction, by pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, is more complicated. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 The service is pretty straightforward: The digital Pup Passport resides on your phone and guides you to confirmed dog-friendly spots. oregonlive, 9 July 2022 Adverb
Rinto and Lawson describe Gerhardstein with many of the same words: straightforward, balanced, well-prepared. The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2022 Setting the stage with a presence that moved beyond the digital world, Darrison gave in-person audience goers straightforward call-to-action tactics to kick up digital and social media marketing for their business. Tiyana Jordan, Essence, 5 Aug. 2022 Our testers found the three-step setup to be simple to follow and scheduling routines straightforward. Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 14 July 2022 But the distinction isn’t always so straightforward. Michael Johnston, The New Yorker, 14 July 2022 That said, finding the right hair brush for your hair type isn’t always so straightforward. Deanna Pai, Glamour, 23 June 2022 But anyone who has driven a car knows that traffic situations aren’t always so straightforward. Jaclyn Trop, Fortune, 14 June 2022 The solution might have seemed straightforward: Ease back on Gomez's signature style, perhaps drape her in dull hues or pedestrian basics. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 7 Dec. 2020 Clearly, Marvel is taking a bit more of an ambitious road than simply going straightforward. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 11 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
1809, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
straightforward
adjective
straight·for·ward strāt-ˈfȯr-wərd
: being clear and honest : frank
He gave a straightforward reply.
straightforward 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in direct
going straight to the point clearly and firmly a straightforward account of the football game with no digressions or personal comments Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- direct
- straight
- honest
- forthright
- plain
- candid
- blunt
- frank
- earnest
- true
- plainspoken
- sincere
- artless
- outspoken
- foursquare
- brusque
- aboveboard
- sharp
- openhearted
- truthful
- abrupt
- uninhibited
- gruff
- curt
- open
- unreserved
- unguarded
- free-spoken
- impolite
- bluff
- unrestrained
- undiplomatic
- tactless
- rude
- veracious
- inconsiderate
- brusk
- point-blank
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indirect
- circuitous
- wordy
- polite
- courteous
- tactful
- verbose
- prolix
- restrained
- roundabout
- ambiguous
- erroneous
- civil
- long-winded
- deceitful
- inhibited
- reserved
- misleading
- mendacious
- evasive
- circumlocutory
- untruthful
- fallacious
- false
- equivocal
- lying
- hypocritical
- two-faced
- double-dealing
2
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course the missile continued on its straightforward path toward the enemy's command post Synonyms & Similar Words
- linear
- direct
- straight
- straightaway
- right
- unbent
- unswerving
- undeviating
- untwisted
- uncurled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rounded
- twisted
- twisting
- curved
- warped
- winding
- bowed
- wavy
- turned
- turning
- spiral
- devious
- entwined
- curving
- kinked
- looped
- coiled
- bending
- looping
- swirled
- curled
- sinuous
- spiraling
- coiling
- serpentine
- curling
- twining
- weaving
- veering
- crooked
- zigzag
- corkscrew
- meandering
- spiralling
- twined
- zigzagging
3
as in honest
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions I want you to be straightforward with me and tell me if this dress looks awful Synonyms & Similar Words
- honest
- outspoken
- candid
- frank
- forthcoming
- forthright
- direct
- plainspoken
- plain
- blunt
- vocal
- openhearted
- straight
- open
- earnest
- up-front
- unpretentious
- unaffected
- unreserved
- unguarded
- naive
- free-spoken
- guileless
- sincere
- real
- artless
- ingenuous
- out-front
- unpretending
- foursquare
- freehearted
- outgoing
- uninhibited
- brusque
- gruff
- innocent
- naïve
- abrupt
- rude
- unsubtle
- vociferous
- natural
- curt
- unrestrained
- undesigning
- thoughtless
- sharp
- impolite
- bluff
- ungracious
- undiplomatic
- tactless
- crusty
- impertinent
- inconsiderate
- unmannerly
- uncivil
- brusk
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- laconic
- uncandid
- restrained
- ambiguous
- unforthcoming
- quiet
- evasive
- circuitous
- reticent
- inhibited
- reserved
- taciturn
- tactful
- equivocal
- dissembling
- uncommunicative
- polite
- courteous
- diplomatic
- considerate
- tight-lipped
- civil
- close-mouthed
- politic
4
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation the distinction between the two types of offenses is pretty straightforward Synonyms & Similar Words
- obvious
- unmistakable
- apparent
- clear
- evident
- simple
- distinct
- unambiguous
- transparent
- plain
- broad
- lucid
- unequivocal
- perspicuous
- comprehensible
- decided
- visible
- luminous
- manifest
- understandable
- patent
- clear-cut
- crystal clear
- unambivalent
- barefaced
- ringing
- open-and-shut
- palpable
- intelligible
- uncomplicated
- explicit
- pellucid
- luculent
- nonambiguous
- bald
- noticeable
- tangible
- bald-faced
- sensible
- tidy
- bright-line
- digestible
- fathomable
- recognizable
- knowable
- graspable
- appreciable
- self-explanatory
- comprehendible
- overt
- undisguised
- readable
- self-evident
- discernible
- observable
- cognizable
- perceptible
- legible
- clean-cut
- trenchant
- clean
- decipherable
- cognoscible
- well-defined
- discernable
- fair
- black-and-white
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ambiguous
- unclear
- obscure
- mysterious
- enigmatic
- dark
- cryptic
- equivocal
- indistinct
- incomprehensible
- unintelligible
- unfathomable
- subtle
- vague
- clouded
- enigmatical
- indecipherable
- unknowable
- imprecise
- nonobvious
- unapparent
- imperceptible
- obfuscated
- inappreciable
- sketchy
- nebulous
- insensible
- slippery
- murky
- unclarified
- hazy
- impalpable
- gray
- grey
- indeterminate
- noncommittal
- indefinite
- indiscernible
- cloudy
- gauzy
- unreadable
- illegible
- misty
- undecipherable
straightforward
2 of 2adverb
variants also straightforwards
as in straight
in an honest and direct manner she finally told him straightforward that she wasn't interested in a date Synonyms & Similar Words
- straight
- straightforwardly
- plain
- simply
- honestly
- frankly
- openly
- sincerely
- forthrightly
- plainly
- abruptly
- directly
- foursquare
- baldly
- candidly
- unreservedly
- sharply
- artlessly
- bluntly
- truthfully
- bluffly
- unguardedly
- brusquely
- curtly
- gruffly
- openheartedly
- earnestly
- rudely
- tactlessly
- impolitely
- point-blank
- veraciously
- inconsiderately
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tactfully
- wordily
- verbosely
- politely
- courteously
- diplomatically
- long-windedly
- deceitfully
- mendaciously
- untruthfully
- falsely
- ambiguously
- erroneously
- evasively
- indirectly
- civilly
- insincerely
- hypocritically
- circuitously
- equivocally
- fallaciously