downright

1 of 2

adverb

down·​right ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt How to pronounce downright (audio)
Synonyms of downrightnext
1
archaic : straight down
2
: absolutely sense 1a
downright handsome
downright mean
3
obsolete : forthright

downright

2 of 2

adjective

1
archaic : directed vertically downward
2
: outright, thorough
a downright lie
3
: plain, blunt
… stories he had heard of her downright tongue …—Angus Wilson
downrightly adverb
downrightness noun

Synonyms of downright

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of downright in a Sentence

Adverb The movie was downright stupid. It's very difficult, if not downright impossible. Adjective rural folks are often known for their downright speech, as they are generally not ones to beat around the bush that's a downright lie, and you know it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
At a party one night, struggling musician Owen strikes a connection with a young woman (Sadie Soverall) that feels downright magical — she’s even dressed as a fairy, emphasizing the dreaminess of the moment. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 Saving our forests from catastrophic fire while allowing slow-burning fires to replenish our landscapes will take everyone pulling together in the next 10 years on projects that feel, well, downright destructive. — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
For overnight guests, this pull from Shaw was downright genius. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Teslas lifestyle products range from traditional and practical merch to downright bizarre items since most Americans recognize it as a car brand. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for downright

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downright was in the 13th century

Rhymes for downright

See All Rhymes for downright

Browse Nearby Words

downrange
downright
downrightly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downright. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

downright

1 of 2 adverb
down·​right -ˌrīt How to pronounce downright (audio)
: in a complete and absolute manner
that was downright stupid

downright

2 of 2 adjective
1
: absolute sense 3, utter
a downright lie
2
: outspoken, blunt
downright country people
downrightly adverb
downrightness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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