honestly
In all sincerity
Honestly functions as a straightforward adverb meaning in an honest manner: I answered honestly.
But its more common use is as a sentence adverb expressing sincerity or frustration.
Honestly, I don't know what to do emphasizes genuine uncertainty.
Honestly! alone expresses exasperation at someone's behavior.
In casual speech, honestly often signals that what follows is a frank admission: Honestly, I didn't even try.
Without concealment or evasion
- truthfullyWithout deception or lies
- seriouslyWith sincere intent
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- reallyIn actual fact
candidly · between us · look · no lie · for real · straight up · real talk · to tell the truth
Without deception or lies
- ethicallyWith moral correctness
- honorablyWith ethical conduct
- fairlyModerately or equitably
- virtuouslyIn an upright manner
uprightly · legitimately · aboveboard · on the level · by the book · in good faith · morally · scrupulously
In a real manner
- trulyIn a genuine manner
- earnestlyWith deep sincerity
- heartfeltDeeply and sincerely meant
- authenticallyIn a real manner
wholeheartedly · from the heart · unreservedly · openly · unpretentiously · sincerely · candidly · in good faith
In actual fact
- seriouslyWith sincere intent
- come onExhortation or inducement
- unbelievableImpossible to accept as true
- I meanClarification phrase
for goodness sake · what the heck · good grief · my word · of all things
frankly
Without concealment or evasion
- truthfullyWithout deception or lies
- seriouslyWith sincere intent
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
really · candidly · between us · look · no lie · for real · straight up · real talk · to tell the truth · genuinely
truthfully
Without deception or lies
virtuously · uprightly · legitimately · aboveboard · on the level · by the book · in good faith · morally · scrupulously · blamelessly
genuinely
In a real manner
authentically · wholeheartedly · from the heart · unreservedly · openly · unpretentiously · sincerely · candidly · in good faith
really
In actual fact
- seriouslyWith sincere intent
- come onExhortation or inducement
- unbelievableImpossible to accept as true
for goodness sake · I mean · what the heck · good grief · my word · of all things
- speech habitsmumbling, stuttering, stammering, rambling, interrupting
- Candor Phrasestruth be told, frankly, to tell the truth, speaking frankly, candor
- conversational hedgesjust saying, frankly, truth be told, in my opinion, with all due respect
- sentence adverbsobviously, certainly, probably, possibly, perhaps
- speech fillersuh, um, er, hmm, like
- fillersfiller, gap filler, filler material, caulk, grout
honestlydishonestly
In an untruthful manner
deceitfully · falsely · deceptively · untruthfully · mendaciously
honestlydishonorably
In shameful manner
dishonourably · corruptly · venally · crookedly · unethically
- be honestSpeak without deception
- to be honestPhrase preceding candor
- being honestStating facts sincerely
- in all honestyPhrase preceding sincere statement
- honest mistakeUnintended error without deception
- honest to GodEmphatic assertion of truthfulness