Meaning & use
mince words
To soften or hold back one's true opinion in order to avoid offending someone.
See it in a sentence
The critic did not mince words when describing the disappointing film.
Please don't mince words; just tell me honestly what you think.
A note on using this word
Almost always used in the negative, 'not mince words,' to mean someone speaks very directly and honestly.
Words with a similar meaning
sugarcoatsoften
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
speak bluntly
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