candid means impartial and free from prejudice. It carries an Arena rating of 1642, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, candid ranks #253 of 17,116 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #356 of 17,123 for Most Malleable Words, #378 of 17,113 for Most Elegant Words, #3,102 of 17,093 for Most Storied Words.
candid is pronounced /ˈkæn.dɪd/.
Why “candid” is a great word
Characterized by openness, sincerity, and straightforwardness in expression, often in a refreshingly unposed or unrehearsed manner. From Latin candidus ("shining white, pure, sincere, honest"), from candēre ("to shine"), from Proto-Indo-European root *kand- ("to shine"), first recorded in English use 1620–30. Unlike “frank,” which can be blunt to the point of tactlessness, or “diplomatic,” which is measured for strategic effect, “candid” glows with an inner lightness, as if honesty were a state of being. It is the unguarded laugh that escapes before the camera clicks, the admission spoken in a moment of vulnerability, the plain truth offered without calculation—a momentary gleam of transparency in a world of polished surfaces.
adj
- Impartial and free from prejudice.e.g.“He knew not where to look for faithful advice, efficient aid, or candid judgement.”
- Straightforward, open and sincere, whether people find either refreshing or distasteful.e.g.“a surprisingly candid admission of guilt”
- Unposed or rehearsed.e.g.“Will the introduction of supplementary flash or flood intrude on a candid picture situation or ruin the mood?”
- Bright; white.e.g.“The Box receives all Black, but, pour'd from thence, / The Stones came candid forth; the Hue of Innocence.”
noun
- A spontaneous or unposed photograph.e.g.“His portraits looked stiff and formal but his candids showed life being lived.”
Words closest in meaning
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