right 1 of 4

noun

Definition of rightnext
1
as in privilege
something to which one has a just claim everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

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2
as in claim
an entitlement to something what right do you have to tell us what to do?

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3
as in justice
the practice of giving to others what is their due activists who have fought all their lives for right

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right

2 of 4

adjective

ˈrīt How to pronounce right (audio)
1
as in true
following an original exactly a modern replica of an 18th-century British warship that is right in all of its details

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2
as in real
being exactly as appears or as claimed despite the name, New York's East River is a strait and not a right river

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3
as in correct
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard the obvious answer is not always the right one

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4
as in deserved
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong trying to do what is right

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5
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue a right woman who did not hang around waterfront bars

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6
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course the first city in America laid out with broad, right avenues

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7
as in normal
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions he hasn't been right since he suffered serious brain injury in the accident

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8
as in appropriate
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation the right tool for the job

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right

3 of 4

adverb

1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference stay right where you are

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2
as in straight
in a direct line or course walk right over here now

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3
as in very
to a great degree a right beautiful day we're having!

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4
as in immediately
without delay we'll leave right after dinner

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5
as in correctly
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose you're not dressed right for an interview with a big-time law firm

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right

4 of 4

verb

as in to better

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word right different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of right are accurate, correct, exact, nice, and precise. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

In what contexts can accurate take the place of right?

While in some cases nearly identical to right, accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

When is it sensible to use correct instead of right?

The synonyms correct and right are sometimes interchangeable, but correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

When might exact be a better fit than right?

In some situations, the words exact and right are roughly equivalent. However, exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

When could nice be used to replace right?

While the synonyms nice and right are close in meaning, nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

How are the words precise and exact related as synonyms of right?

Precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of right
Noun
What Bowie and Renan add is that the loudest protests against horizontal review historically came from abolitionists, labor organizers, suffragists, and civil-rights activists. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The majority, on the other hand, found the National Trust for Historic Preservation likely did not have the legal right to challenge the project. — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
At least three cars rested on the right shoulder next to the Williams Street on-ramp and one had serious hood and windshield damage. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026 All the way on the right side of the first floor, there’s a red and stone imprint of where stairs used to lead up. — Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Kids are starting to head back to school, college football returns this week and the NFL season is right around the corner. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 In short, the Bears’ depth has already been strained and promises to be tested right out of the gate. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
Monday’s home run props will hopefully right the ship and bulge the profits, creating more wiggle room for another drought. — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Luckily, there are some easy fixes that will help right your system. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for right
Recent Examples of Synonyms for right
  1. privilege
  2. claim
  3. justice
  4. true
  5. real
  6. correct
  7. deserved
  8. honorable
Noun
  • His life has been intertwined with money, business, politics and privilege — for better or worse.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Despite this, and no matter their individual circumstances or histories, the former in-group felt that they were expected to express shame over their privilege.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of privilege
Noun
  • He was removed from the South Side church by an independent review board, and the archdiocese’s Office of Child Protection investigated the claims.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Asked to defend those claims on live TV, the candidate chose to talk ticket prices instead.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of claim
Noun
  • The case could soon be appealed back to the Supreme Court, days after the justices handed down a procedural decision that allowed the administration to move ahead.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The proceedings open with selection of a panel consisting entirely of service members who will act as the jury to hear the case according to rules of military justice.
    — Steve Gorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of justice
Adjective
  • The true main event will pit top AEW star Mercedes Mone against Willow Nightingale in yet another women’s world title match that will not go on last.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Unlocking the true nature of dark energy and dark matter could help astronomers understand what the universe is made of, how its expansion has changed over time, and if there is more to understanding gravity than meets the eye.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • For localization, Voithru’s Totus offers AI dubbing across 29 languages, and XL8 brings both MediaCAT and EventCAT for video localization and real-time interpretation.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • All 350 potential scenarios are tailor-made, and some are influenced by real events, from both sides of the political divide.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • Processor defenses leave a tiny opening Modern processors improve performance by predicting which path a program is likely to follow and beginning the work before the correct path is confirmed.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Officials said the school also improved its graduation rate from 75% to 95% and its faculty saw in the number holding the proper credentials — from 43 to more than 90 who have the correct subject matter licenses.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of correct
Adjective
  • The toilet bowl has Díaz-Canel’s face painted on it, so people can leave their deserved offering.
    — Sarah Moreno August 7, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Netflix has already faced deserved criticism for its sports coverage, often turning live events into infomercials for its entertainment division.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of deserved
Adjective
  • Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was later elevated to honorable.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • From Prime Minister Mark Carney’s standpoint, Canada had no honorable alternative.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of honorable

Phrases Containing right

Browse Nearby Words

rigging (up)
right
right and left
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Cite this Entry

“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/right. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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