warts-and-all
Nothing held back
Warts-and-all describes something shown without concealing flaws or imperfections: a warts-and-all biography, a warts-and-all portrait of the marriage.
The phrase suggests honest, unflattering completeness—presenting the bad alongside the good.
It comes from a remark attributed to Oliver Cromwell, who supposedly told his portrait painter to include his facial warts rather than flatter him.
Artistic depiction of someone
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- documentaryFactual film about reality
- profileSide-facing outline
- accountRecord of dealings
expose · chronicle · depiction · retrospective · authorized · unauthorized · tell-all · intimate
Without embellishment or coating
- honestFree from deception
- unflinchingRefusing to show fear
- truthfulAccurate and sincere
- unsparingShowing no leniency
blunt · frank · raw · unfiltered · transparent · forthright · plainspoken · candid
Imperfections in something
- imperfectionsDeviations from the ideal
- shortcomingsInadequacies or weak points
- blemishesVisible surface flaws
- faultsImperfections or shortcomings
foibles · failings · weaknesses · defects · quirks · idiosyncrasies · authenticity · genuine
portrait
Artistic depiction of someone
- memoirWritten personal recollection
- documentaryFactual film about reality
- profileSide-facing outline
account · expose · chronicle · depiction · retrospective · authorized · unauthorized · tell-all · intimate · behind-the-scenes
unvarnished
Without embellishment or coating
- honestFree from deception
- unflinchingRefusing to show fear
- truthfulAccurate and sincere
unsparing · blunt · frank · raw · unfiltered · transparent · forthright · plainspoken · candid · direct
flaws
Imperfections in something
- imperfectionsDeviations from the ideal
- shortcomingsInadequacies or weak points
- blemishesVisible surface flaws
faults · foibles · failings · weaknesses · defects · quirks · idiosyncrasies · authenticity · genuine · real
warts-and-allidealized
Made to seem perfect
sanitized · whitewashed · airbrushed · rose-tinted · sugar-coated
warts-and-allpicture-perfect
Visually ideal, without flaw
polished · flawless · unblemished · blemish-free · idealized