Basic Details
Word: Outspoken
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Saying openly what you think, even when others may not like it.
Synonyms: frank, blunt, candid, forthright
Antonyms: reserved, reticent, guarded
How to Spell Outspoken
Syllables: out - spo - ken
Tricky part: The middle is spok, from spoken, with no a and no c. The word is closed up, with no space or hyphen.
Watch out for: outspokan, outspocken, outspoaken
Memory tip: If you speak out, your words are spoken out loud for everyone. Put out first and spoken after it.
Usage Examples
Example 1: My aunt is outspoken and never hides her views at family dinners.
Example 2: The outspoken journalist wrote about corruption in the city council.
Example 3: He was outspoken in his support for girls' education.
Fun Fact
Malala Yousafzai became known worldwide as an outspoken voice for girls' schooling, and in 2014, at 17, she became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word outspoken as used in the sentence:
Meena is outspoken in class debates and always says what she believes.
a) blunt
b) frank
c) reserved
d) direct
Show answer
c) reserved. Frank, blunt and direct describe someone like Meena; a reserved person keeps her views to herself.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
outspocken
a) o
b) c
c) p
d) k
Show answer
b) c. Spoken has a k alone, without the c that comes before k in words like chicken.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. arrogent 2. modist 3. outspoken 4. sarcastik
a) not boasting about your own abilities
b) saying the opposite of what you mean to mock someone
c) saying exactly what you think, openly
d) behaving as if you are better than others
Show answer
c) saying exactly what you think, openly. Arrogant ends in ant, modest in est and sarcastic in ic, which leaves outspoken as the correct one.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. At a meeting about a new rule, the outspoken critic is the one who will ____.
a) forget it was made
b) speak against it in public
c) secretly agree with it
d) keep quiet about it
Show answer
b) speak against it in public
2. Outspoken people are sometimes thought rude because they ____.
a) arrive late to class
b) speak in a soft voice
c) rarely give an opinion
d) do not soften their opinions
Show answer
d) do not soften their opinions
