adv
frankly
FRANGK-lee
adv
1
Speaking honestly and directly, without holding back.
"Frankly, I think the meeting was a waste of time."
"She spoke frankly about the mistakes the team had made."
2
Used to emphasize how obvious or strong something is.
"The excuse was frankly ridiculous."
How to Use Frankly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to signal you're about to say something honestly, even if it's blunt.
Common pairings
frankly speaking
quite frankly
frankly ridiculous
Word Forms
franklier comparative, more frankly comparative, frankliest superlative, most frankly superlative
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_____, I think the meeting was a waste of time.
Etymology
From frank + -ly.