out·right
ˌau̇t-ˈrīt 
1
: in entirety : completely
rejected the proposal outright
outright refuses to cooperate with law enforcement—
Tim Murphy
Tim Murphy2
: on the spot : instantaneously
was killed outright
3
: without lien (see lien sense 1) or encumbrance (see encumbrance sense 2)
purchased the property outright for cash
4
: without restraint or reservation
laughed outright
cried outright
5
archaic
: straight ahead : directly
out·right
ˈau̇t-ˌrīt
1
a
: being completely or exactly what is stated
an outright lie
b
: given without reservation
outright grants for research
c
: made without encumbrance or lien
an outright sale
2
archaic
: proceeding directly onward
outrightly
adverb
Synonyms
Adjective
- absolute
- all-out
- arrant
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- flat-out
- out-and-out
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- stone
- straight-out
- thorough
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Examples of outright in a Sentence
Adverb
She won the competition outright.
The painting is now owned outright by the museum.
Their house was destroyed outright by the fire.
I bought the car outright.
Adjective
I was surprised by their outright rejection of the idea.
Recent Examples on the WebEmily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Ava’s shortcomings — and her spiky presence on a show initially perceived as Smart’s solo vehicle — led some viewers to outright dislike the character.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
But artists aren’t outright asking for AI to stop; that’s likely fruitless anyway.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
County officials appearing before a Senate committee earlier this month didn't outright oppose the bypass bill.
—Russ Bynum, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Two organizations representing New York taxi-cab drivers previously called for legislation banning driverless cars outright in the city.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024
With 19 candidates contesting the election, pundits expected none to secure the 50% needed to win outright and predicted that Mr. Faye would face a runoff against President Sall’s protégé, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
The reasons why almost everything from the horribly outdated, if not outright dangerous, rank-and-yank frameworks to modern processes like growth mindset reviews fail are inherent in their design.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Or someone could outright refuse to acknowledge or discuss the situation.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
But the justices declined to outright ban gerrymandering.
—TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
At one point, Mnuchin forcefully advocated for a sale of TikTok, rather than an outright ban, during a private clash with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro in front of Trump in the Oval Office.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Global shaming often fails to produce any meaningful change in the targeted country, and in some cases can backfire by provoking outright resistance.
—Rochelle Terman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024
In the early 1980s, Picnic became part of the Leningrad Rock Club, an organization, allegedly controlled by the KGB, that facilitated underground and semi-underground rock bands to perform at a time when rock music in the Soviet Union faced scrutiny, if not outright bans.
—Vladimir Kozlov, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2024
With the concession of his main rival, a young political outsider backed by a powerful opposition figure has won a surprise outright victory in Senegal’s presidential election only 10 days after being released from jail.
—Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that would force TikTok’s owner, Bytedance, to sell off the app or face an outright ban.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024
Russia is now resorting to outright market manipulation.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Here’s what the newest election results show in San Diego
March 11, 2024
In the city of San Diego, Henry Foster III won a City Council seat outright — avoiding a runoff in the District 4 special election — and will be sworn in Monday morning.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Ava’s shortcomings — and her spiky presence on a show initially perceived as Smart’s solo vehicle — led some viewers to outright dislike the character.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
But artists aren’t outright asking for AI to stop; that’s likely fruitless anyway.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
County officials appearing before a Senate committee earlier this month didn't outright oppose the bypass bill.
—Russ Bynum, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Two organizations representing New York taxi-cab drivers previously called for legislation banning driverless cars outright in the city.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 28 Mar. 2024
With 19 candidates contesting the election, pundits expected none to secure the 50% needed to win outright and predicted that Mr. Faye would face a runoff against President Sall’s protégé, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
The reasons why almost everything from the horribly outdated, if not outright dangerous, rank-and-yank frameworks to modern processes like growth mindset reviews fail are inherent in their design.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Or someone could outright refuse to acknowledge or discuss the situation.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Miami would need to score at least three goals in a victory to win outright and advance.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
But the justices declined to outright ban gerrymandering.
—TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
At one point, Mnuchin forcefully advocated for a sale of TikTok, rather than an outright ban, during a private clash with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro in front of Trump in the Oval Office.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Global shaming often fails to produce any meaningful change in the targeted country, and in some cases can backfire by provoking outright resistance.
—Rochelle Terman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024
In the early 1980s, Picnic became part of the Leningrad Rock Club, an organization, allegedly controlled by the KGB, that facilitated underground and semi-underground rock bands to perform at a time when rock music in the Soviet Union faced scrutiny, if not outright bans.
—Vladimir Kozlov, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2024
With the concession of his main rival, a young political outsider backed by a powerful opposition figure has won a surprise outright victory in Senegal’s presidential election only 10 days after being released from jail.
—Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that would force TikTok’s owner, Bytedance, to sell off the app or face an outright ban.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024
Russia is now resorting to outright market manipulation.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outright.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near outright
Cite this Entry
“Outright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outright. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
outright
1 of 2 adverb
out·right
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈrīt
1
a
: in entirety : completely
sold outright
b
: without holding back
laughed outright
2
: on the spot : instantaneously
killed outright
outright
2 of 2 adjective
out·right
ˈau̇t-ˌrīt
1
: being exactly what is stated
an outright lie
2
: given without restriction
an outright gift
More from Merriam-Webster on outright
Nglish: Translation of outright for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of outright for Arabic Speakers
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