CANDID

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does candid mean? 

• CANDID (adjective)
  The adjective CANDID has 3 senses:

1. characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

2. informal or natural; especially caught off guard or unprepared

3. openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness

  Familiarity information: CANDID used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CANDID (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

Synonyms:

blunt; candid; forthright; frank; free-spoken; outspoken; plainspoken; point-blank; straight-from-the-shoulder

Context example:

a point-blank accusation

Similar:

direct (straightforward in means or manner or behavior or language or action)

Derivation:

candidness (the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Informal or natural; especially caught off guard or unprepared

Context example:

a candid interview

Similar:

uncontrived; unstudied (not by design or artifice; unforced and impromptu)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness

Synonyms:

candid; heart-to-heart; open

Context example:

a heart-to-heart talk

Similar:

artless; ingenuous (characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious)

Derivation:

candidness (the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech)

 Context examples 

But to be candid without ostentation or design—to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities and an excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He was surprised; but after a few moments' silent consideration of her, replied in a calmer, graver tone, and as if the candid result of conviction, I believe you are right.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Open, candid, artless, guileless, with affections strong but simple, forming no pretensions, and knowing no disguise.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

But this was the only time I was ever guilty of so uncleanly an action; for which I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance, after he has maturely and impartially considered my case, and the distress I was in.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“A candid observer would certainly declare that we were so already before we embarked upon so wild an experiment. I confess that I never imagined that the effect could be so sudden and so severe.”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I begin to think, Watson, said Holmes, that I make a mistake in explaining. ‘Omne ignotum pro magnifico,’ you know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was steady, observant, moderate, candid; never run away with by spirits or by selfishness, which fancied itself strong feeling; and yet, with a sensibility to what was amiable and lovely, and a value for all the felicities of domestic life, which characters of fancied enthusiasm and violent agitation seldom really possess.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

There is great truth, however, in what you have now urged of the allowances which ought to be made for him, and it is my wish to be candid in my judgment of every body.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I am afraid it was, indeed, said the more candid Lady Bertram, who had overheard her; I am very much afraid she caught the headache there, for the heat was enough to kill anybody.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)