Meaning & use
unflinchingly candid
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Speaking honestly and directly, without avoiding difficult or unpleasant truths.
Grammar: Used as an adjective phrase before a noun or after a linking verb: an unflinchingly candid memoir; she was unflinchingly candid.
Patterns
- be unflinchingly candid about something
- an unflinchingly candid account
Her unflinchingly candid memoir describes both her successes and her failures.
The coach was unflinchingly candid about the team's weaknesses.
He gave an unflinchingly candid interview, admitting mistakes he had never discussed before.
Common combinations
- unflinchingly candid about
- She was unflinchingly candid about the reasons the project failed.
- unflinchingly candid account
- The book is an unflinchingly candid account of life in the army.
- unflinchingly candid assessment
- The report offers an unflinchingly candid assessment of the company's finances.
- remain unflinchingly candid
- Even under pressure, he remained unflinchingly candid.
Synonyms and how they differ
- brutally honest
- More informal and often suggests the honesty may hurt; 'unflinchingly candid' is slightly more formal and focuses on courage.
- forthright
- Means direct and clear, but not necessarily about unpleasant truths.
- frank
- A simpler word for open and honest speech; 'unflinchingly candid' adds the idea of not backing away.
Opposites
Word family
- candid adjective
- Honest and direct.
- candor noun
- The quality of being honest and direct.
- unflinching adjective
- Not showing fear or hesitation.
Commonly confused: unflinchingly candid or unflinchingly candidly?
unflinchingly candid vs unflinchingly candidly
This is wrong because 'candid' is an adjective, not an adverb, so it cannot take '-ly' after 'unflinchingly'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'unflinchingly candid' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Unflinchingly candid' is an adjective phrase, so it can describe 'review'. Option A uses it like an adverb after 'spoke'. Option C wrongly adds '-ly' to 'candid'. Option D uses a noun form that does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unflinchingly candid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.