Looking for synonyms for to be honest? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say to be honest.
- Frankly
- Honestly
- Truthfully
- Candidly
- Plainly
- Directly
- Openly
- Sincerely
- Forthrightly
- In all honesty
- To tell the truth
- Without mincing words
- Speaking frankly
- In plain terms
- Let me be clear
- Without sugarcoating
- To speak candidly
- Bluntly
- Straightforwardly
- To put it bluntly
Want to learn how to say to be honest professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Frankly
When to Use: Suitable for expressing honesty in a direct manner.
Example: “Frankly, the project’s success depends on more than just hard work.”
2. Honestly
When to Use: Appropriate for conveying sincerity and truthfulness.
Example: “Honestly, I believe the strategy needs to be re-evaluated for better results.”
3. Truthfully
When to Use: Best used to emphasize honesty in response to a question or situation.
Example: “Truthfully, our team lacks the experience needed for this project.”
4. Candidly
When to Use: Suitable for expressing open and honest communication without reservation.
Example: “Candidly, we need to improve our customer service to compete effectively.”
5. Plainly
When to Use: Appropriate for speaking clearly and without embellishment.
Example: “Plainly, the current budget will not cover the proposed expansion.”
6. Directly
When to Use: Best used when addressing a matter in a straightforward and direct manner.
Example: “Directly speaking, the team’s performance has not met the company’s expectations.”
7. Openly
When to Use: Suitable for expressing oneself in a transparent and unrestrained manner.
Example: “Openly, I have reservations about the feasibility of this deadline.”
8. Sincerely
When to Use: Appropriate for expressing genuine feelings or opinions without deceit.
Example: “Sincerely, I believe this is the best course of action for our team.”
9. Forthrightly
When to Use: Best used for speaking in a direct and outspoken manner.
Example: “Forthrightly, the proposed solution does not address the core problem.”
10. In All Honesty
When to Use: Suitable for emphasizing the truthfulness of a statement.
Example: “In all honesty, we must consider alternative markets to increase our sales.”
11. To Tell the Truth
When to Use: Appropriate for prefacing a statement that reveals true thoughts or feelings.
Example: “To tell the truth, I was not impressed with the outcomes of the meeting.”
12. Without Mincing Words
When to Use: Best used for communicating in a very clear and direct way, without trying to soften the message.
Example: “Without mincing words, the product failed to meet the required quality standards.”
13. Speaking Frankly
When to Use: Suitable for introducing a statement that is honest and direct.
Example: “Speaking frankly, the company must innovate to remain competitive.”
14. In Plain Terms
When to Use: Appropriate for explaining something in simple and clear language.
Example: “In plain terms, the merger will affect our department significantly.”
15. Let Me Be Clear
When to Use: Best used to emphasize clarity and directness in communication.
Example: “Let me be clear, the company’s policy on this matter is non-negotiable.”
16. Without Sugarcoating
When to Use: Suitable for giving information in a straightforward way without trying to soften the impact.
Example: “Without sugarcoating, the financial outlook for the next quarter is bleak.”
17. To Speak Candidly
When to Use: Appropriate for expressing oneself openly and sincerely.
Example: “To speak candidly, I think we need to change our marketing strategy.”
18. Bluntly
When to Use: Best used when being straightforward and slightly abrupt.
Example: “Bluntly, this is not the kind of result we expect from an experienced team.”
19. Straightforwardly
When to Use: Suitable for a direct and uncomplicated manner of speaking.
Example: “Straightforwardly, we have to cut costs to avoid financial trouble.”
20. To Put It Bluntly
When to Use: Appropriate for making a statement in a very clear way, without trying to be polite or pleasant.
Example: “To put it bluntly, the project was a failure due to poor planning.”