Looking for synonyms for to be frank? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say to be frank.
- To be honest
- Frankly
- Honestly
- In all honesty
- To tell the truth
- Candidly
- Truthfully
- Speaking openly
- Bluntly
- Plainly
- Directly
- Forthrightly
- To be straightforward
- Openly
- Without mincing words
- To put it bluntly
- To speak plainly
- Without beating around the bush
- In plain English
- To cut to the chase
Want to learn how to say to be frank professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. To be honest
Appropriate for expressing sincerity or introducing a truthful opinion.
Example: “To be honest, the project’s success depends on timely completion.”
2. Frankly
Used when being direct about a difficult or sensitive topic.
Example: “Frankly, the results were disappointing and require immediate action.”
3. Honestly
Suitable for emphasizing truthfulness or sincerity in a statement.
Example: “Honestly, we need to reconsider our strategy to meet our targets.”
4. In all honesty
Indicates a desire to be completely truthful, often before sharing a personal viewpoint.
Example: “In all honesty, I think the proposal lacks the detail needed for approval.”
5. To tell the truth
Used when revealing facts or feelings that may have been previously withheld.
Example: “To tell the truth, we underestimated the complexity of the project.”
6. Candidly
Appropriate for speaking in a straightforward manner without holding back opinions.
Example: “Candidly, the team’s performance has not met the expected standards.”
7. Truthfully
Indicates that what is being said is without deceit.
Example: “Truthfully, we have a long way to go before we reach our sales goals.”
8. Speaking openly
Used when sharing thoughts or opinions without reserve.
Example: “Speaking openly, I believe we should invest more in research and development.”
9. Bluntly
Appropriate for making a point in a direct, often slightly harsh, manner.
Example: “Bluntly, the proposal is not going to work without significant revisions.”
10. Plainly
Used to express something in a clear and uncomplicated manner.
Example: “Plainly, we need to cut costs if we want to maintain profitability.”
11. Directly
Suitable for addressing an issue without evasion or circumlocution.
Example: “Directly, the lack of communication is affecting project outcomes.”
12. Forthrightly
Indicates straightforward and honest communication, without evasion.
Example: “Forthrightly, the merger poses several risks that must be addressed.”
13. To be straightforward
Used when being direct and clear about one’s thoughts or opinions.
Example: “To be straightforward, our current policy does not support innovation.”
14. Openly
Suitable for discussing something without concealment or deception.
Example: “Openly, we need to discuss the elephant in the room: our declining market share.”
15. Without mincing words
Indicates speaking directly and frankly, without trying to soften the message.
Example: “Without mincing words, the project was a failure due to poor leadership.”
16. To put it bluntly
Used for expressing oneself in a very direct manner, often about uncomfortable truths.
Example: “To put it bluntly, the team is not meeting any of its objectives.”
17. To speak plainly
Appropriate for expressing oneself in simple and straightforward language.
Example: “To speak plainly, we are not competitive enough in our current state.”
18. Without beating around the bush
Used when getting straight to the point without unnecessary preamble.
Example: “Without beating around the bush, we need to discuss the layoffs.”
19. In plain English
Indicates explaining something in clear, straightforward language, without using jargon.
Example: “In plain English, the contract is not favorable to us in its current form.”
20. To cut to the chase
Suitable for skipping over preliminary material and getting directly to the main point.
Example: “To cut to the chase, we need to decide today whether we’re proceeding with the acquisition.”
