down·right
ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt 
1
archaic
: straight down
2
: absolutely sense 1a
downright handsome
downright mean
3
obsolete
: forthright
Synonyms of downright
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
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
After the twinkling lights of the holiday season have been packed away, winter can feel downright dull and desolate, especially for families with energetic kids trapped inside by the cold.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Duncan in particular seems to get turned around a lot, and HBO’s final trailer promises plenty of action and, yes, some drama, but compared with the War Show vibe of the original GoT trailer, this is a downright comedy.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downright
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Adverb
There’s something downright romantic about a Montreal Canadiens home game.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
After the twinkling lights of the holiday season have been packed away, winter can feel downright dull and desolate, especially for families with energetic kids trapped inside by the cold.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Though Robby Hoddinott was responsible for the track’s prickly guitar lead, the backing of bassist-pal Dave Torbert from New Riders of the Purple Sage elevates Weir and the song’s rhythmic bottom to something uplifting and downright prancy.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Duncan in particular seems to get turned around a lot, and HBO’s final trailer promises plenty of action and, yes, some drama, but compared with the War Show vibe of the original GoT trailer, this is a downright comedy.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downright
Cite this Entry
“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downright. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downright
1 of 2 adverb
down·right
-ˌrīt
: in a complete and absolute manner
that was downright stupid
downright
2 of 2 adjective1
: absolute sense 3, utter
a downright lie
downrightly
adverb
downrightness
noun
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