downright 1 of 2

1
2

downright

2 of 2

adverb

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 downright
Adjective
There’s a lot of factors that can make the early days of Survivor feel downright grueling. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 22 Sep. 2025 Twisting, turning, and at times downright hilarious, this is one of the essential movies of 2025. Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Adverb
On the opposite end, a summertime dew point in the 40s or 50s can feel downright desert-like. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025 But there's also name-calling, bullying and downright cruelty that's taking a toll on all of us. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downright
Adjective
  • In September 2024, Jane’s Addiction came to an abrupt and explosive end during a Boston concert when Farrell punched guitarist Dave Navarro onstage, an incident that resulted in the reunion tour’s immediate cancellation, the band breaking up, and now a pair of lawsuits.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Ross said she was unexpectedly forced to make the jump into indie producing with House in 2016 after her tenure as chief executive at the National Theatre in London came to an abrupt end.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ray is the leader of a biker gang and demands utter subservience.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Outside, the scene among the sea of red was one of utter devastation.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Minasian absolutely could have answered that question.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • In the case of this emerald green mini dress with a pleated faux-wrap silhouette, waist ties, and eyelet balloon sleeves, absolutely.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So began a campaign that fused blunt political messaging with bighearted moving images—a sensibility not unlike that of Nair’s films.
    Eric Lach, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The running back's response was blunt, even if not necessarily concise.
    Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The sheer expanse of places to see in Japan is astounding.
    Kristin Braswell, AFAR Media, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Sources of succor and disquiet—currents which Winter has ridden in life and art—each female elder is a maternal presence who offers complementary textures to the tapestry Winter has woven from threads of experience and sheer imagination.
    Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The trade itself, the act of ice harvesting, vanished, but the work of keeping things cold multiplied a hundredfold.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Like the wiggly jelly noodles in the spectacular jiang feng ($13), served cold.
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Earlier this month, Slick Rick invited an intimate audience to the historic Westlake Studios in Los Angeles to screen the short film.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Not nearly as greasy as a true balm, but richer than your typical face cream, this drugstore darling instantly soothes dry, chapped skin with the help of emollient shea butter, moisturizing vitamin B5, and calming madecassoside (a derivative of our fave, Centella asiastica, or cica for short).
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Third, Netanyahu's insistence on resuming fighting in Gaza to achieve absolute victory was never practical, as the United States learned in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and Israel in the West Bank.
    Ehud Barak, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
  • This year's trade deadline was an absolute bloodbath, as the Twins cut ties with 11 players in two days.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downright. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on downright

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!