Unvarnished: meaning, definitions and examples

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unvarnished

 

[ สŒnหˆvษ‘หrnษชสƒt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

honest

Not covered with a layer of paint or varnish; plain and simple. Figuratively, it means expressing the truth without hiding anything.

Synonyms

direct, frank, honest, plain, straightforward.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unvarnished

Use when describing something that is presented in a raw, unembellished manner, often highlighting the reality without any sugar-coating.

  • He gave an unvarnished account of what happened during the meeting
plain

Suitable for describing something simple and straightforward, without any embellishments or complexities.

  • She wore a plain dress to the party
honest

Useful in any situation where you mean to provide truth or sincerity, without any deceit.

  • He's an honest man who always speaks the truth
frank

Best used when you need to be openly honest, sometimes brutally, especially in personal interactions.

  • To be frank, I don't think your plan will work
direct

Appropriate for situations where you need to be clear, straightforward, and to the point, often in communication.

  • She appreciated his direct approach when discussing her performance
straightforward

Ideal for scenarios where simplicity, clarity, and no-nonsense communication or actions are required.

  • His instructions were straightforward and easy to follow

Examples of usage

  • I appreciated her unvarnished opinion on the matter.
  • He gave an unvarnished account of what happened that night.
Context #2 | Adjective

direct

Not disguised or elaborated; plain and straightforward.

Synonyms

blunt, frank, honest, plain, straightforward.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unvarnished

Used to describe something in its most basic and unpolished form, often referring to the raw or literal truth. It may imply a lack of refinement.

  • He gave an unvarnished account of the incident, leaving out no details.
plain

Typically used to describe something simple and clear without any decoration or embellishment. It can also refer to someone who speaks clearly and straightforwardly.

  • She made her points in plain language.
honest

Commonly used to describe someone or something that is truthful and trustworthy. It carries a broad and positive connotation.

  • I appreciate your honest feedback.
frank

Used when someone is open and sincere in expression. Itโ€™s generally positive and implies honesty without unnecessary harshness.

  • To be frank, I think we need to reassess our strategy.
straightforward

Used when someone is direct and easy to understand, often in a positive sense. It implies clarity and simplicity.

  • The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow.
blunt

Used when someone is direct and might come off as harsh or insensitive. It often has negative connotations due to its lack of tact.

  • She bluntly told him that his idea wasn't good enough.

Examples of usage

  • She gave me an unvarnished look at the situation.
  • His unvarnished criticism was hard to swallow.

Translations

Translations of the word "unvarnished" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sem verniz

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเคฟเคจเคพ เคตเคพเคฐเฅเคจเคฟเคถ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช unlackiert

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tanpa pernis

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะตะปะฐะบะพะฒะฐะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ niepolakierowany

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅก—่ฃ…ใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใชใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท non verni

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sin barniz

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท verniksiz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฐ”๋‹ˆ์‹œ๋˜์ง€ ์•Š์€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุบูŠุฑ ู…ุฏู‡ูˆู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nenalakovanรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ nelakovanรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆœชไธŠๆผ†

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ nepolakiran

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รณvarinn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะปะฐะบัั‹ะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒจแƒ”แƒฆแƒ”แƒ‘แƒแƒ•แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ laklanmamฤฑลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sin barniz

Etymology

The word 'unvarnished' originated in the mid 17th century from the combination of 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'varnish' which refers to a shiny coating used to decorate or protect something. Over time, 'unvarnished' came to be used figuratively to describe something that is plain, honest, and straightforward, without any embellishments or cover-ups.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,105 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.