directness

noun

di·​rect·​ness də-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

dī-

1

: the character of being accurate in course or aim

2

: strict pertinence : straightforwardness

Her directness was disarming.

—Robin Cook

Synonyms of directness

• honesty
• sincerity
• frankness
• bluntness
• forthrightness
• straightforwardness
• candor

Examples of directness in a Sentence

his directness is much appreciated by his patients

Recent Examples on the Web

Paul, meanwhile, was in a period of uncharacteristic autobiographical directness in his lyric-writing, documenting his grievances with his actor girlfriend Jane Asher while residing in her family’s London home. — Darryn King, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

But there was also a directness about her, an appealing kind of naked honesty. — Amei Wallach, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

These poems are made with some of the simplicity and directness of a song. — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

In their directness and simplicity, Laffont’s photos evoke the style-forward photographs that Malick Sidibé was taking in Mali at that same time. — Lucy Sante, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for directness

• correctness
• perfectness
• incorrectness
• indirectness