Word: forthright

Associations

Forthright means being direct and honest in communication. It is about speaking clearly without hiding information or being evasive.

• Example 1: In a job interview, it’s good to be forthright about your skills. This means you should clearly share what you can do without exaggeration.
• Example 2: She gave a forthright answer to the question, explaining her thoughts honestly. This shows she is open and straightforward in her opinions.
• Example 3: His forthright manner makes it easy to understand his point of view. This illustrates that being direct often helps in communication.

A well-known synonym for forthright is "straightforward." The key difference is that "forthright" often suggests a kind of boldness in being honest, while "straightforward" implies simplicity and clarity without necessarily involving boldness.

Substitution

If you want to use a different word, you might say:

• Honest: This emphasizes truthfulness but may not imply directness.
• Direct: Similar in meaning, but this focuses more on how information is delivered rather than the honesty aspect.
• Open: This suggests a willingness to share but doesn't always imply clarity in the communication.

Deconstruction

The word "forthright" can be broken down into its parts:

• Forthright combines "forth" (meaning out or forward) and "right" (meaning correct or honest).
• Historically, it originates from Middle English, combining these ideas to express the sense of being clear and honest in one’s speech.

Inquiry

Think about these questions:

1. Can you remember a time when someone was forthright with you? How did it feel?
2. Are there situations where being forthright is more important than being polite? Why?
3. How do you think being forthright could change the dynamics of a conversation?