simple; plain; frugal; sincere
Meanings
4 senses · 11 examplesadjective
simple and plain; not gaudy or showy
Describes clothing, decoration, colors, or styles that are understated and elegant without being flashy.
She dresses in a simple yet elegant manner.
This building has a plain exterior but a luxurious interior.
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His poetry is unadorned yet genuinely emotional.
adjective
thrifty; frugal; living simply without luxury
Often used in set phrases describing a lifestyle of austerity and hard work.
Hard work and plain living are our fine traditions.
Although he is very wealthy, he has always lived a simple life.
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We must maintain a simple and unpretentious lifestyle.
adjective
sincere; honest; unpretentious; not hypocritical
Describes emotions, language, or personality that is genuine and without affectation.
The language of this article is simple, yet very powerful.
She has down-to-earth values.
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Although this gift is not expensive, it is filled with his sincere intentions.
adjective
rudimentary; nascent; in an embryonic state
formalUsed primarily in academic or philosophical contexts to describe early forms of theories or philosophies.
Ancient rudimentary materialist philosophy held that the world is material.
This nascent dialectical thinking was very advanced for its time.