overtly

adverb

overt·​ly ō-ˈvərt-lē 

ˈō-(ˌ)vərt-

: in an overt manner : in a way that is open, straightforward, or obvious

an overtly hostile remark

an overtly political message

… the fashion of dumbing down the public discourse was over. Being overtly brainy, simply being oneself, was back in style.

—Elizabeth Drew

In the late 1860's interest gradually waned in landscape paintings that overtly conveyed nationalistic, philosophical, and religious meanings.

—Franklin Kelly

It is now easier for French writers to write more overtly about the occupation because their country is now stressing reconciliation, forgiveness for whatever wrongs were done then …

—Barbara Probst Solomon

Examples of overtly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An ethics group has filed a lawsuit against taxpayer money being used for the overtly political advertisement. — Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

These anti-Haitian attitudes reflect the overtly racial overtones of the immigration debate. — Kendall Medford, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

And while there are plenty of overtly Halloween pieces, the best finds don’t feel like novelty decorations. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Xi has overtly revealed his affinity for legalism, as Mao did decades earlier. — Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overtly

• covertly
• curtly