Antonyms for plain
pleɪnplain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. plain

   Clear (Latin clarus, bright, brilliant) primarily refers to that which shines, and impresses the mind through the eye with a sense of luster or splendor. A substance is said to be clear that offers no impediment to vision — is not dim, dark, or obscure. Transparent refers to the medium through which a substance is seen, clear to the substance itself, without reference to anything to be seen through it; we speak of a stream as clear when we think of the water itself; we speak of it as transparent with reference to the ease with which we see the pebbles at the bottom. Clear is also said of that which comes to the senses without dimness, dulness, obstruction, or obscurity, so that there is no uncertainty as to its exact form, character, or meaning, with something of the brightness or brilliancy implied in the primary meaning of the word clear; as, the outlines of the ship were clear against the sky; a clear view; a clear note; "clear as a bell;" a clear, frosty air; a clear sky; a clear statement; hence, the word is used for that which is free from any kind of obstruction; as, a clear field. Lucid and pellucid refer to a shining clearness, as of crystal. A transparent body allows the forms and colors of objects beyond to be seen through it; a translucent body allows light to pass through, but may not permit forms and colors to be distinguished; plate glass is transparent, ground glass is translucent. Limpid refers to a liquid clearness, or that which suggests it; as, limpid streams. That which is distinct is well defined, especially in outline, each part or object standing or seeming apart from any other, not confused, indefinite, or blurred; distinct enunciation enables the hearer to catch every word or vocal sound without perplexity or confusion; a distinct statement is free from indefiniteness or ambiguity; a distinct apprehension of a thought leaves the mind in no doubt or uncertainty regarding it. That is plain, in the sense here considered, which is, as it were, level to the thought, so that one goes straight on without difficulty or hindrance; as, plain language; a plain statement; a clear explanation. Perspicuous is often equivalent to plain, but plain never wholly loses the meaning of unadorned, so that we can say the style is perspicuous tho highly ornate, when we could not call it at once ornate and plain. Compare EVIDENT.

   Antonyms:
   ambiguous, cloudy, dim, dubious, foggy, indistinct, mysterious, obscure, opaque, turbid, unintelligible, vague

   Synonyms:
   apparent, clear, diaphanous, distinct, evident, explicit, intelligible, limpid, lucid, manifest, obvious, pellucid, perspicuous, straightforward, translucent, transparent, unadorned, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

   Preposition:
   Clear to the mind; clear in argument; clear of or from annoyances.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. plain

   Antonyms:
   uneven, undulating, rugged, rough, abrupt, broken, confused, encumbered, obstructed, interrupted, questionable, uncertain, dubious, ambiguous, enigmatical, hard, abstruse, affected, fair, beautiful, sophisticated, artful, varnished, embellished

   Synonyms:
   level, even, flat, smooth, open, clear, unencumbered, unobstructed, uninterrupted, manifest, evident, obvious, unmistakable, simple, easy, natural, unaffected, homely, unsophisticated, open, unvarnished, unembellished, unreserved, artless

Matched Categories

1. • Land

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. plain, field, champaignnoun

   extensive tract of level open land

   "they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain"; "he longed for the fields of his youth"

   Antonyms:
   venose, violet-streaked, stripy, speckled, patched, purple-spotted, pointillist, vermiculated, elaborate, brinded, attractive, yellow-marked, slashed, mottled, indirect, fussy, dressy, veined, black-marked, castled, red-striped, streaked, stippled, white-streaked, damascene, tabby, freckled, pointillistic, banded, brownish-striped, striped, dappled, baroque, burled, yellow-banded, flamboyant, battlemented, fantastic, floral, lentiginose, brindled, moire, streaky, brown-speckled, fancy, brindle, impure, sprigged, busy, aureate, maroon-spotted, puff, spotted, tessellated, cross-banded, marbleised, checked, marbleized, red-streaked, laced, adorned, lacy, blotchy, embattled, blotched, chequered, checkered, yellow-spotted, watered, reddish-striped, dark-spotted, black-barred, flecked, marbled, white-blotched, florid, churrigueresque, dotted, brownish-speckled, brown-striped, black-and-tan, veinlike, figured, decorated, lentiginous, vermicular, unobvious, flowered, specked, spotty, patterned, purple-veined, churrigueresco, damask, castellated, tiger-striped, ringed, crackle, yellow-striped, puffed, luxuriant, fanciful, pinstriped, white-ribbed, rococo, vermiculate, lacelike, splotched

   Synonyms:
   plain stitch, sphere, field of study, champaign, knit stitch, battlefield, flying field, subject area, study, playing area, area, force field, subject, theater of operations, field of operation, knit, theatre of operations, field of honor, bailiwick, field of view, theatre, battleground, subject field, airfield, playing field, theater, field of force, athletic field, discipline, landing field, field of operations, domain, line of business, arena, field, field of battle, orbit

2. knit, knit stitch, plain, plain stitchadjective

   a basic knitting stitch

   Antonyms:
   fanciful, vermiculated, baroque, patterned, impure, flamboyant, battlemented, decorated, ringed, vermiculate, fussy, checked, brown-speckled, checkered, venose, maroon-spotted, florid, brown-striped, dotted, damascene, streaky, busy, marbleised, stippled, aureate, floral, puff, reddish-striped, spotty, purple-spotted, slashed, crackle, burled, brownish-speckled, marbled, puffed, black-barred, patched, flowered, specked, elaborate, yellow-banded, white-streaked, streaked, spotted, unobvious, adorned, black-marked, yellow-striped, banded, speckled, rococo, lentiginose, sprigged, yellow-spotted, chequered, pointillist, flecked, dappled, mottled, veinlike, marbleized, brindle, white-blotched, purple-veined, red-streaked, yellow-marked, pointillistic, splotched, fantastic, moire, fancy, churrigueresco, churrigueresque, brindled, castled, damask, embattled, pinstriped, lentiginous, indirect, tabby, attractive, castellated, dressy, lacy, watered, veined, freckled, stripy, luxuriant, brownish-striped, tessellated, cross-banded, blotchy, white-ribbed, brinded, red-striped, blotched, striped, vermicular, laced, figured, black-and-tan, tiger-striped, dark-spotted, violet-streaked, lacelike

   Synonyms:
   plain stitch, champaign, knit, field, knitting, knit stitch, knitwork

3. apparent, evident, manifest, patent, plain, unmistakableadjective

   clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

   "the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields"; "evident hostility"; "manifest disapproval"; "patent advantages"; "made his meaning plain"; "it is plain that he is no reactionary"; "in plain view"

   Antonyms:
   venose, laced, elaborate, dressy, pointillistic, castellated, brinded, marbleized, veinlike, fussy, white-blotched, black-and-tan, tessellated, flamboyant, embattled, florid, dappled, tabby, brownish-striped, fancy, indirect, maroon-spotted, watered, blotchy, lentiginose, spotty, mottled, cross-banded, purple-spotted, black-barred, blotched, splotched, damascene, violet-streaked, chequered, damask, purple-veined, marbled, lentiginous, battlemented, vermiculate, rococo, flecked, tiger-striped, yellow-striped, puff, brownish-speckled, dark-spotted, stripy, checkered, black-marked, brown-speckled, veined, white-ribbed, busy, moire, vermiculated, lacy, pinstriped, attractive, patterned, brindle, baroque, checked, brindled, patched, stippled, spotted, churrigueresco, burled, fantastic, red-striped, dotted, flowered, figured, freckled, crackle, reddish-striped, castled, marbleised, banded, decorated, aureate, yellow-banded, adorned, pointillist, white-streaked, yellow-spotted, lacelike, streaky, yellow-marked, red-streaked, puffed, floral, sprigged, specked, churrigueresque, speckled, striped, streaked, impure, vermicular, fanciful, ringed, luxuriant, slashed, unobvious, brown-striped

   Synonyms:
   unembellished, observable, apparent, ostensible, spare, apparent(a), unornamented, patent, sheer, homely, unmistakable, discernible, unmingled, manifest, unvarnished, unmixed, evident, unpatterned, bare, seeming(a)

4. plainadjective

   not elaborate or elaborated; simple

   "plain food"; "stuck to the plain facts"; "a plain blue suit"; "a plain rectangular brick building"

   Antonyms:
   impure, flamboyant, tabby, white-blotched, white-ribbed, florid, brownish-striped, flecked, mottled, laced, red-striped, aureate, tiger-striped, patched, stippled, dark-spotted, dappled, streaked, vermiculate, banded, blotchy, chequered, striped, luxuriant, attractive, figured, violet-streaked, white-streaked, dotted, decorated, burled, patterned, brindle, purple-veined, lentiginous, vermicular, cross-banded, unobvious, ringed, purple-spotted, damascene, black-marked, crackle, black-barred, churrigueresque, freckled, fanciful, veinlike, fantastic, yellow-spotted, castellated, brownish-speckled, reddish-striped, streaky, castled, yellow-marked, splotched, baroque, lentiginose, spotted, flowered, marbled, checkered, veined, stripy, churrigueresco, moire, floral, marbleized, dressy, checked, specked, yellow-striped, lacy, brindled, yellow-banded, black-and-tan, damask, vermiculated, brown-striped, indirect, watered, tessellated, adorned, fancy, red-streaked, sprigged, pinstriped, venose, fussy, blotched, puffed, pointillist, battlemented, maroon-spotted, brinded, embattled, elaborate, marbleised, slashed, rococo, brown-speckled, speckled, spotty, busy, pointillistic, puff, lacelike

   Synonyms:
   unornamented, evident, unvarnished, sheer, homely, bare, unmixed, unembellished, unmingled, manifest, unmistakable, spare, patent, apparent, unpatterned

5. plain, unpatternedadjective

   lacking patterns especially in color

   Antonyms:
   lentiginose, marbled, tessellated, sprigged, yellow-marked, yellow-striped, yellow-spotted, impure, busy, purple-veined, brownish-striped, red-striped, striped, tabby, battlemented, cross-banded, veinlike, freckled, checked, stippled, streaked, damask, puffed, red-streaked, churrigueresco, lacy, patterned, brindle, rococo, burled, veined, flowered, lentiginous, yellow-banded, fantastic, aureate, white-blotched, pointillist, streaky, lacelike, mottled, black-barred, floral, spotty, splotched, brown-striped, castled, pointillistic, elaborate, black-marked, specked, florid, reddish-striped, dressy, checkered, dotted, venose, attractive, decorated, blotchy, fussy, moire, black-and-tan, stripy, adorned, vermicular, castellated, brindled, blotched, patched, fanciful, tiger-striped, churrigueresque, chequered, vermiculate, vermiculated, white-ribbed, marbleized, dark-spotted, damascene, flecked, crackle, spotted, watered, white-streaked, brown-speckled, fancy, laced, indirect, dappled, luxuriant, marbleised, pinstriped, embattled, flamboyant, unobvious, banded, brinded, baroque, brownish-speckled, purple-spotted, maroon-spotted, speckled, ringed, slashed, puff, figured, violet-streaked

   Synonyms:
   unornamented, evident, unvarnished, sheer, homely, bare, unmixed, unembellished, unmingled, manifest, unmistakable, spare, patent, apparent, unpatterned

6. plain, sheer, unmingled, unmixedadjective

   not mixed with extraneous elements

   "plain water"; "sheer wine"; "not an unmixed blessing"

   Antonyms:
   brinded, blotched, veinlike, venose, fantastic, tessellated, crackle, yellow-striped, ringed, flecked, black-marked, patterned, splotched, vermicular, dappled, burled, streaky, indirect, veined, dressy, stripy, luxuriant, marbleised, floral, white-streaked, yellow-marked, busy, maroon-spotted, stippled, banded, lentiginose, vermiculate, castled, churrigueresque, pointillist, puff, cross-banded, purple-veined, black-barred, aureate, brindle, flowered, battlemented, puffed, checkered, white-blotched, brownish-speckled, lacelike, blotchy, brown-speckled, brownish-striped, sprigged, tabby, dotted, yellow-spotted, damascene, dark-spotted, unobvious, mottled, laced, watered, fancy, vermiculated, yellow-banded, black-and-tan, speckled, slashed, decorated, pointillistic, marbleized, baroque, checked, rococo, lentiginous, damask, striped, brown-striped, attractive, violet-streaked, embattled, lacy, impure, castellated, marbled, brindled, white-ribbed, red-streaked, streaked, spotty, moire, pinstriped, churrigueresco, patched, spotted, freckled, fanciful, fussy, florid, figured, red-striped, flamboyant, purple-spotted, adorned, chequered, elaborate, tiger-striped, reddish-striped, specked

   Synonyms:
   evident, bare, spare, gauzy, downright, unpatterned, uncompounded, cobwebby, unmixed, unornamented, vapourous, right-down, out-and-out(a), manifest, patent, absolute, vaporous, homely, see-through, unmingled, unvarnished, rank(a), gossamer, bluff, sheer(a), diaphanous, sheer, apparent, bold, filmy, gauze-like, unembellished, transparent, unmistakable

7. plain, unvarnishedadjective

   free from any effort to soften to disguise

   "the plain and unvarnished truth"; "the unvarnished candor of old people and children"

   Antonyms:
   maroon-spotted, brown-striped, marbled, attractive, splotched, damascene, white-ribbed, lentiginous, laced, mottled, speckled, lacelike, moire, rococo, aureate, venose, patterned, tiger-striped, embattled, patched, brinded, red-streaked, lacy, stripy, puff, marbleised, black-and-tan, fancy, flamboyant, dotted, brindle, ringed, indirect, damask, black-barred, dark-spotted, elaborate, yellow-spotted, freckled, impure, figured, flecked, streaked, churrigueresco, tessellated, cross-banded, crackle, burled, puffed, specked, watered, veinlike, yellow-striped, chequered, yellow-marked, decorated, stippled, brownish-speckled, vermiculated, churrigueresque, veined, adorned, baroque, striped, checkered, brown-speckled, slashed, pinstriped, checked, yellow-banded, banded, white-blotched, marbleized, streaky, lentiginose, unobvious, spotted, brindled, red-striped, pointillist, fantastic, vermiculate, spotty, black-marked, flowered, floral, busy, fussy, fanciful, blotched, tabby, reddish-striped, violet-streaked, pointillistic, florid, dappled, vermicular, luxuriant, purple-spotted, castled, battlemented, brownish-striped, sprigged, white-streaked, dressy, purple-veined, castellated, blotchy

   Synonyms:
   evident, unstained, apparent, spare, unornamented, patent, sheer, homely, bare, unmistakable, unmingled, manifest, unvarnished, unmixed, unpatterned, unembellished

8. plain, bare, spare, unembellished, unornamentedadjective

   lacking embellishment or ornamentation

   "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete"

   Antonyms:
   striped, busy, battlemented, aureate, fantastic, stippled, brindle, burled, flowered, blotched, puffed, churrigueresque, watered, spotted, moire, damask, banded, rococo, brown-striped, speckled, patterned, brindled, laced, pointillist, yellow-striped, marbleised, marbleized, decorated, purple-veined, white-streaked, sprigged, pinstriped, yellow-marked, slashed, checked, vermicular, brownish-striped, cross-banded, tiger-striped, dressy, lacelike, mottled, crackle, floral, fussy, castellated, figured, black-and-tan, dark-spotted, vermiculated, purple-spotted, castled, flamboyant, streaked, dappled, indirect, brinded, tessellated, adorned, pointillistic, puff, marbled, white-ribbed, ringed, blotchy, yellow-banded, white-blotched, unobvious, florid, black-barred, elaborate, lentiginous, patched, damascene, fanciful, embattled, spotty, chequered, veinlike, red-striped, freckled, black-marked, flecked, checkered, luxuriant, attractive, stripy, maroon-spotted, reddish-striped, venose, tabby, vermiculate, veined, violet-streaked, churrigueresco, fancy, red-streaked, impure, baroque, dotted, streaky, brown-speckled, splotched, brownish-speckled, lentiginose, specked, lacy, yellow-spotted

   Synonyms:
   evident, spare, bare(a), unpatterned, supernumerary, unmixed, bleak, redundant, unornamented, superfluous, free, au naturel(p), bare, patent, surplus, stark, excess, simple(a), homely, trim, unmingled, stripped, desolate, supererogatory, mere(a), unvarnished, extra, sheer, apparent, nude, unsheathed, unfinished, barren, manifest, scanty, naked, marginal, unembellished, unmistakable

9. homely, plainverb

   lacking in physical beauty or proportion

   "a homely child"; "several of the buildings were downright homely"; "a plain girl with a freckled face"

   Antonyms:
   brinded, yellow-spotted, fantastic, venose, brindled, lentiginose, freckled, dotted, lentiginous, vermicular, puff, indirect, damask, striped, busy, fussy, stripy, marbleized, patterned, purple-spotted, patched, spotty, white-blotched, brownish-speckled, speckled, watered, flecked, marbleised, brownish-striped, lacelike, vermiculate, violet-streaked, attractive, battlemented, checkered, pointillist, churrigueresco, decorated, red-striped, splotched, yellow-marked, banded, unobvious, figured, chequered, white-streaked, fancy, burled, spotted, fanciful, streaky, vermiculated, flamboyant, cross-banded, specked, flowered, veinlike, castled, moire, puffed, pointillistic, mottled, white-ribbed, lacy, tabby, elaborate, yellow-banded, luxuriant, yellow-striped, pinstriped, black-barred, maroon-spotted, dappled, black-marked, black-and-tan, baroque, floral, florid, churrigueresque, sprigged, reddish-striped, crackle, laced, marbled, brown-striped, brown-speckled, ringed, tessellated, adorned, slashed, blotched, embattled, tiger-striped, stippled, streaked, impure, dark-spotted, purple-veined, damascene, aureate, red-streaked, dressy, blotchy, checked, rococo, veined, brindle, castellated

   Synonyms:
   unembellished, evident, apparent, homy, homey, spare, unornamented, patent, sheer, homely, unmistakable, unmingled, manifest, unvarnished, unmixed, homelike, unpatterned, bare

10. complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetchadverb

    express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

    "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about"

    Antonyms:
    slashed, maroon-spotted, churrigueresque, tiger-striped, fancy, banded, busy, impure, violet-streaked, tessellated, adorned, damascene, white-ribbed, pointillist, specked, churrigueresco, black-marked, mottled, lacelike, streaked, splotched, black-barred, spotty, brownish-speckled, yellow-striped, unobvious, embattled, red-streaked, floral, cross-banded, purple-veined, marbleized, brown-striped, elaborate, white-blotched, flecked, pinstriped, florid, checkered, veinlike, yellow-banded, chequered, indirect, damask, marbled, purple-spotted, vermiculate, white-streaked, fantastic, castled, dark-spotted, battlemented, laced, figured, puff, moire, luxuriant, vermiculated, tabby, brindle, sprigged, watered, brindled, lacy, venose, dappled, pointillistic, veined, marbleised, brown-speckled, lentiginous, flowered, stripy, blotched, blotchy, dressy, dotted, black-and-tan, red-striped, patterned, checked, vermicular, castellated, decorated, aureate, stippled, fussy, attractive, streaky, yellow-marked, baroque, burled, brinded, ringed, flamboyant, crackle, spotted, reddish-striped, freckled, speckled, brownish-striped, lentiginose, puffed, rococo, patched, striped, yellow-spotted, fanciful

    Synonyms:
    recoil, kvetch, quetch, give up, kick, strike up, kick back, animadvert, complain, speak out, sound off, opine, speak up

11. obviously, evidently, manifestly, patently, apparently, plainly, plainadverb

    unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')

    "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list"; "it is all patently nonsense"; "she has apparently been living here for some time"; "I thought he owned the property, but apparently not"; "You are plainly wrong"; "he is plain stubborn"

    Antonyms:
    spotted, black-and-tan, pointillist, lacelike, brindle, streaky, baroque, vermicular, lentiginose, checkered, elaborate, violet-streaked, stripy, slashed, dark-spotted, cross-banded, castled, mottled, pointillistic, sprigged, churrigueresco, dotted, blotched, adorned, stippled, marbleized, marbled, spotty, white-blotched, marbleised, watered, maroon-spotted, brinded, streaked, florid, blotchy, embattled, flamboyant, red-striped, rococo, battlemented, fancy, decorated, veined, figured, aureate, vermiculate, moire, brown-speckled, specked, unobvious, crackle, reddish-striped, yellow-banded, ringed, lacy, tessellated, impure, brownish-speckled, patched, fussy, floral, freckled, tabby, damask, dappled, yellow-spotted, venose, black-marked, flowered, lentiginous, speckled, striped, attractive, burled, purple-spotted, indirect, puffed, chequered, castellated, splotched, brownish-striped, purple-veined, brindled, vermiculated, dressy, tiger-striped, veinlike, red-streaked, brown-striped, luxuriant, fantastic, checked, busy, laced, churrigueresque, white-ribbed, black-barred, puff, pinstriped, fanciful, flecked, patterned, damascene, white-streaked, yellow-marked, banded, yellow-striped

    Synonyms:
    ostensibly, manifestly, plainly, patently, simply, seemingly, on the face of it, evidently, apparently, obviously

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. plainadjective

   Antonyms:
   ambiguous, equivocal, indistinct, indecipherable, elaborate, luxurious, cryptic, abstruse, ornate, enigmatic, vague, inexplicable, obscure, complex, intricate, embellished

   Synonyms:
   evident, manifest, explicit, obvious, unmistakable, distinct, apparent, palpable, patent, unembellished, simple, austere, severe, ungarnished, unadorned, untrimmed, homely, uncomely, flat, level, even, smooth, plane, unaffected, simple, artless, outspoken, undesigning, ingenuous, unreserved, direct, frugal, homely, unvaried, unfigured, mere, absolute, unmistakable

2. plainadverb

   Synonyms:
   plainly, distinctly, bluntly, candidly, explicitly

3. plainnoun

   Synonyms:
   prairie, field, savanna, pampas, steppe, llano, champaign, campagna, heath, moor, camass, downs, tundra, veldt, peneplain

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. expression

   not unique

   it had no expression it was plain

   Submitted by anonymous on November 19, 2019  

2. flanneladjective

   flannel is colorful a very vibrant and plain white is the opposite of vibrant

   plain white shirt

   Submitted by Jnsdeiebdhdjdvd172 on January 27, 2022  

3. tartan

   not decorated or elaborate; simple or basic in character.

   her outfit was very plain

   Submitted by anonymous on December 7, 2020  

How to use plain in a sentence?

1. Kelly Gallivan:

   We’re just plain, ordinary people, we don’t want any part of this. But the packages just keep coming.

2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge:

   Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they are the more necessary it is to be plain.

3. Gloria Allred:

   Because in plain English, what the new law does is it opens up access to the courts for many victims of child sexual abuse who may have been victimized in prior years but for many reasons never came forward, never exercised their option to file a lawsuit at that time but would still like to be able to file a lawsuit and have access to justice in a civil lawsuit in California. If Bill Cosby defense is successful in having that new law declared unconstitutional, Bill Cosby defense is going to be a significant barrier to those who allege they are victims to being able to have access to justice in the courts against those that they believe and assert are sexual predators and who have significantly harmed them. We will be addressing that issue later on in this case.

4. Cory Booker:

   I've said time and time again that this is unacceptable, that if you come after Joe Biden, you're going to have to deal with me in this case. There is no — as you said — these are baseless, unfounded, scurrilous lies, plain and simple, trying to undermine the character of one of the statesmen of our country, not our party, but our country. And so, yeah, you've got a problem with me.

5. Eric Baxter:

   This is premeditated religious discrimination, plain and simple, we hope that this serves as a reminder to universities everywhere that they cannot discriminate against student groups just because they don’t like their beliefs.

How to pronounce plain?

How to say plain in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency