overtly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overtly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is done in a very obvious and outwardly manner. For example, "The speaker overtly criticized the President's policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Symptoms like oedema, the swelling of legs or face to make children look fat, or thin hair that is easily shed, may be overtly recognizable.

The Guardian

Mulligan plays a socially concerned teacher scrapping with her rich former lover (Nighy); though it does not overtly take sides, Hare's play is about political and social polarisation, and Mulligan has to make a rousing speech defending social workers.

The Guardian - Film

It's well known that the suit conveys authority and power in the workplace in overtly masculine ways.

The Guardian

Well, it's tougher for companies to discriminate overtly against them; an entirely new area of law is emerging devoted to just this kind of bias.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The internet has been rightly praised for democratizing access and for giving voice to the non-elite; newspapers, with their history of tacitly or overtly amplifying dominant voices, represent the establishment that the internet is breaking down.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was not that he was overtly political, more that the adaptation of Stan Barstow's novel fitted neatly within the naturalistic works of the period.

The Guardian

He says understanding politics is intrinsic to understanding the city and has established the more overtly political Chip Tours, which specialises in human rights tours led by left-leaning guides who lived through the period.

The Guardian

But the most galling thing about his assumption is that in one way, he's right: masculine dress is the standard academic uniform, for academia remains an overtly male domain.

The Guardian

Moscow theatres are staging overtly anti-regime plays.

The Guardian

Stagings in Belarus are not toned down for fear of repercussions, Kaliada says: "It can't be said that all of our work is overtly political.

The Guardian

Now designers have begun to respond overtly to demands for modelling collaboration: Journey (2012) is a wordless, ethereal game in which players, by interacting, produce mutual benefit and emotional connection but do not explicitly trade.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overtly" to describe actions or statements made in a way that is easily seen or understood, particularly when emphasizing the openness or visibility of the action. For instance, "The company overtly supported the new legislation" highlights the company's open endorsement.

Common error

Avoid using "overtly" when you mean something was done secretly or in a hidden manner. "Overtly" implies openness and visibility, so it is the opposite of actions performed in secret.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "overtly" functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that an action or quality is expressed or carried out in an open and observable manner. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage aligns with standard grammatical conventions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overtly" is an adverb used to describe actions or qualities that are displayed openly and visibly. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and well-suited for use in news, business and formal contexts. It is important to use "overtly" when you want to emphasize the transparency or visibility of something, rather than implying secrecy. Related phrases include "openly", "explicitly", and "publicly", each with nuances. Remember to avoid confusing "overtly" with its antonyms and use it to clearly indicate open and observable actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

openly

Implies a lack of concealment but may not necessarily mean something is done in a showy manner, unlike "overtly".

explicitly

Focuses on clarity and directness of expression, whereas "overtly" highlights the visibility of an action.

publicly

Suggests something is done in view of the public, but "overtly" can apply even if an action is not widely known.

blatantly

Carries a negative connotation of being offensively obvious, which "overtly" does not inherently possess.

flagrantly

Similar to "blatantly" but often implies a violation of rules or norms, unlike the neutral "overtly".

obviously

Emphasizes the ease of perception rather than the demonstrative nature implied by "overtly".

noticeably

Suggests that something is easily observed, with less emphasis on intention than "overtly".

plainly

Indicates simplicity and lack of ambiguity, differing from the demonstrative implication of "overtly".

conspicuously

Highlights that something attracts attention, more so than the straightforward indication of "overtly".

patently

Implies that something is undeniably obvious and evident, carrying a stronger sense of certainty than "overtly".

FAQs

How can I use "overtly" in a sentence?

Use "overtly" to describe actions or qualities that are displayed in an open and easily observable manner. For example, "The politician "overtly supported" the controversial bill" indicates clear and public endorsement.

What are some alternatives to saying "overtly"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "openly", "explicitly", or "publicly" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "overtly" to describe something hidden?

No, "overtly" means something is done in an open and obvious way. Using it to describe something hidden would be contradictory; instead, consider words like "covertly" or "secretly".

What's the difference between "overtly" and "obviously"?

"Overtly" describes something done openly and visibly, while "obviously" describes something easily perceived or understood. While similar, "overtly" focuses on the manner of action, and "obviously" on the ease of understanding. You can use other words like "clearly", "plainly", or "distinctly" instead of obviously.