truth-telling
Refusing to deceive
Truth-telling is the practice of speaking honestly, especially when doing so is difficult or risky.
The term often appears in contexts where honesty requires courage—whistleblowers, confessions, or speaking uncomfortable facts to power: The administration has no appetite for truth-telling about the budget.
As an adjective, it describes someone committed to honesty: a truth-telling witness.
Direct, unguarded honesty
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- forthrightnessQuality of being direct
- plainspokennessUnadorned directness in speech
outspokenness · unvarnished · plainness · plain-speaking · bold · upfront · forthright · unfiltered
Truthfulness, sincerity
- uprightnessMoral correctness and honesty
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
- ethicalConforming to moral principles
virtuous · incorruptible · trustworthy · moral · righteous · scrupulous · conscientious · steadfast
Entry or confession
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
- divulgenceAct of making known
coming clean · owning up · fessing up · self-incrimination · guilty plea · contrition · remorse · repentance
Quality of being accessible
- clarityState of being understandable
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- visibilityRange of clear sight
- accessibilityEase of approach
disclosure · reporting · public record · freedom of information · open government · auditing · scrutiny · oversight
Act of revealing information
- unveilingAct of first revealing
- exposureState of being unprotected
- unmaskingRevealing what's hidden
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
discovery · divulgence · unearthing · bringing to light · laying bare · outing · leak · bombshell
frankness
Direct, unguarded honesty
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- directnessQuality of being straightforward
- forthrightnessQuality of being direct
plainspokenness · outspokenness · unvarnished · plainness · plain-speaking · bold · upfront · forthright · unfiltered · undiplomatic
honesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
- uprightnessMoral correctness and honesty
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- principledHaving strong moral beliefs
ethical · virtuous · incorruptible · trustworthy · moral · righteous · scrupulous · conscientious · steadfast · authentic
admission
Entry or confession
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
divulgence · coming clean · owning up · fessing up · self-incrimination · guilty plea · contrition · remorse · repentance · penance
openness
Quality of being accessible
- clarityState of being understandable
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- visibilityRange of clear sight
accessibility · disclosure · reporting · public record · freedom of information · open government · auditing · scrutiny · oversight · sunlight
disclosure
Act of revealing information
uncovering · discovery · divulgence · unearthing · bringing to light · laying bare · outing · leak · bombshell · exposé
- confessionsconfession, admission, deathbed confession, divulgence, acknowledgment
- religious ethicsChristian ethics, divine command, moral law, divine law, love thy neighbor
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, real, fake, counterfeit
- honestyhonesty, candor, sincerity, dishonesty, frankness
- speaking upspeak up, speak out, speak freely, voice, give voice
- hospice carehospice, hospice care, hospice doctor, hospice aide, hospice volunteer
truth-tellinglying
Stating known falsehoods
deception · falsehood · dishonesty · deceit · mendacity
truth-tellingconcealment
Act of hiding something
secrecy · cover-up · hiding · suppression · obfuscation