1
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
we were all impressed by how down-to-earth the movie star turned out to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pragmatic
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly
a down-to-earth guidance counselor who is frank in telling students which colleges they're likely to get into
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of down-to-earth
But there is also something very down-to-earth about them.
—
Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
The father-son duo’s down-to-earth attire wasn’t just practical for a hands-on volunteer shift.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
The first season, set in London, follows Helen Webb (Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.
—Peter White, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
And Josh is obviously just really sweet and down-to-earth and was really, really lovely too.
—Vogue, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
The father-son duo’s down-to-earth attire wasn’t just practical for a hands-on volunteer shift.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
The first season, set in London, follows Helen Webb (Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.
—Peter White, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
And Josh is obviously just really sweet and down-to-earth and was really, really lovely too.
—Vogue, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-earth
Adjective
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Singer Island has a humble personality, with more reverence for its natural beauty and less regard for glamorous perfection than its southern neighbor.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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This humble ingredient is a powerhouse in all kinds of cooking.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Felix’s memoir-manifesto draws on Black radical poetic traditions to argue for the pragmatic power of poetry, and for language as a tool for liberation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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The winners of the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races ran on a platform of being a little bit less divisive and trying to be more pragmatic.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The magic of the series comes in the complete buy-in of the contestants as well as Davies and Horne (Horne's character is a meek, annoying and sycophantic version of himself).—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
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But savings were meek, with the largest dip found in Stockton, off only 4% last year vs up 2% in 2024 and 36% over the previous four years.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Researchers say the system delivers an unusually realistic driving experience.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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But an edited — and realistic — image of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong in tears after being arrested is raising new alarms about how the administration is blurring the lines between what is real and what is fake.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Starring frontman JayDee of the trap corridos outfit Herencia de Patrones as an aspiring singer-songwriter in north-central California, the modest enterprise was originally scheduled for release months ago, then delayed till the doldrums of January instead.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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And different areas might get more modest snowfall or perhaps merely a cold and soggy day.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Yet, even for those long-ensconced in homes, the calming tones continue to be both popular and practical.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The panel concluded the order was both overly broad and impermissibly vague, raising constitutional and practical concerns.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-earth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-earth. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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