frankly

comparative franklier · comparative more frankly · superlative frankliest · superlative most frankly

1. In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt.

   to speak frankly

   3 more examples

   He spoke frankly about the economy.

   She was frankly disappointed. For some reason she had expected to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven, burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp.

   1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 2

   Musk’s Israel tour was transparently transactional and frankly insulting. The antisemitic sentiment Musk endorsed had nothing to do with Israel; “replacement theory” is generally an unsupported allegation that Jews and other immigrants in the US and Europe are destroying Western civilization.

   2023 November 28, Jill Filipovic, “Opinion: Elon Musk’s Israel tour was transparently transactional and insulting”, in CNN

   Synonyms: candidly, forthcomingly, honestly, truthfully, bluntly, candidly, outright, earnestly

2. sentence adverbIn truth, to tell the truth.

   Most of what they said was, frankly, a pack of lies.

   1 more example

   Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

   1939, Gone with the Wind, spoken by Rhett Butler (Clark Gable)

   Synonyms: as a matter of fact, to be frank, truth to tell, above a bit, actually, all things considered, as a matter of fact, by right

3. medicineTo a degree large enough as to be plainly evident.

   frankly septic

   1 more example

   frankly psychotic