in no uncertain terms

prepositional phrase

Definitely, clearly; bluntly, forthrightly; explicitly, categorically, unequivocally.

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. idiomaticespecially a threat or admonishmentDefinitely, clearly; bluntly, forthrightly; explicitly, categorically, unequivocally.

    In no uncertain terms do I believe that we should outlaw or 'wuss down' contact sports!!!

    2011 January 31, Ben McGrath, “Does football have a future: The NFL and the concussion crisis”, in The New Yorker
    3 more examples

    The latter held up the lamp where it wouldn't get smashed and admonished them in no uncertain terms that he wanted me alive.

    1919, Stewart Edward White, chapter 11, in The Killer

    Kennedy assured West German Ambassador Wilhelm Grewe in no uncertain terms that he does not intend to let West Berlin go down the drain.

    1961 November 3, “Toughening Up”, in Time

    We think it's time the people whose lives are being affected by callous indifference and malignant neglect let elected representatives and government agencies know their concerns in no uncertain terms.

    1991 December 1, Dawn Schmitz, quoting Reggie Williams, “African American AIDS Money Cut”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 20, page 2

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 清楚而有力的
  • 清楚而有力的 (qīngchu ér yǒulì de)bluntly
Finnish täysin selvästi
  • täysin selvästibluntly
French sans ambages
  • sans ambagesbluntly
German klipp und klar, in aller Deutlichkeit
  • klipp und klarbluntly
  • in aller Deutlichkeitbluntly
  • unmissverständlichbluntly
Hungarian kereken, kerek perec
  • kerekenbluntly
  • kerek perecbluntly
  • nyersenbluntly
  • világosanbluntly
  • egyértelműenbluntly
  • félreérthetetlenülbluntly
  • kertelés nélkülbluntly
  • feketén-fehérenbluntly
  • magyaránbluntly
Italian chiaro e tondo
  • chiaro e tondobluntly
Polish bez ogródek
  • bez ogródekbluntly
Spanish en términos inequívocos, en términos muy claros
  • en términos inequívocosbluntly
  • en términos muy clarosbluntly
  • muy claramentebluntly
  • sin ambigüedadesbluntly
Cite this entry
APA

in no uncertain terms. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20no%20uncertain%20terms

MLA

“in no uncertain terms.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20no%20uncertain%20terms. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in no uncertain terms,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20no%20uncertain%20terms.

Source: in no uncertain terms on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.