What Is Another Way to Say “To Be Honest”?

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.”

Linda Brown