candor
The quality of being open, honest, and straightforward
Examples
In a meeting
“I appreciate your candor in sharing what's not working on the team”
Over coffee
“Can I speak with candor? I don't think this plan is going to work”
Why this word
honesty
Candor emphasizes forthright, direct expression without evasion or reservation, while honesty simply means truthfulness without implying openness of manner
frankness
Candor suggests sincere transparency and freedom from bias or malice, while frankness can imply bluntness that might be harsh or tactless
openness
Candor specifically means directness in expressing oneself without pretense, while openness broadly means receptivity or lack of concealment without emphasizing directness
Usage tip
Use when praising or requesting honest, direct communication; has a positive connotation unlike 'bluntness'
Etymology
Latin 'candor' meaning 'whiteness, purity, sincerity' (from candere 'to shine, be white')
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
convey
To communicate or make an idea, feeling, or meaning known.
reiterate
To say something again for emphasis or clarity.
paraphrase
To restate something in different words to make it clearer or shorter.