Meaning & use
candid response
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Meanings
nouncountable
An answer that states honestly and directly what someone really thinks, even if it is uncomfortable.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a candid response' or 'several candid responses'.
Patterns
- a candid response to something
- give a candid response
- in a candid response
When asked about the delays, the manager gave a candid response and admitted the team had fallen behind.
Her candid response to the criticism surprised everyone, because she simply agreed with it.
We asked for a candid response, not a polite one, so please tell us what you really think.
nouncountable
A direct, honest reaction to a question or situation, as opposed to a prepared or evasive one.
Grammar: Often used with 'to' to name what is being answered: a candid response to the report.
Patterns
- a candid response to a question
- elicit a candid response
- a candid response from someone
The survey was anonymous so that employees would feel free to give a candid response.
His candid response to the rumor ended the speculation immediately.
Word forms
| plural | candid responses |
|---|
Common combinations
- a candid response to a question
- The interviewer smiled at her candid response to a question about failure.
- give a candid response
- He gave a candid response about how much the project had actually cost.
- an honest and candid response
- Voters said they wanted an honest and candid response from the mayor.
- a surprisingly candid response
- The coach's surprisingly candid response revealed how much pressure the players were under.
- draw a candid response
- The open-ended question drew a candid response from several customers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- honest answer
- More informal and common in speech; 'candid response' sounds slightly more formal or written.
- straight answer
- Emphasizes directness and often implies impatience; a candid response can still be gentle.
- frank reply
- Very close in meaning, but 'frank' often suggests bluntness, while 'candid' stresses openness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: candid response or candidate?
candid response vs candidate
A person applying for a job or standing for election. It shares the first letters with 'candid' but has nothing to do with honesty.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'candid response' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A candid response is an honest, direct answer, so admitting what went wrong fits. Option 0 contradicts the meaning because refusing to answer is not candid, and option 3 contradicts it by asking for pleasant rather than honest words.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “candid response”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.