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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 down-to-earth
Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical Self-Reliant Gardening is a detailed and practical guide from an experienced, down-to-earth farmer, drawing on 40 years of growing and eating his own food.
—
Catherine Habgood
september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Pleasant sounds, tastes, feelings, and aromas are high on the priority list for this warm, down-to-earth sign.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
Hot Ones host Sean Evans delivered a poignant motivational speech during a surprise appearance on popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 3 livestream on Wednesday, offering insight and advice related to patience and perseverance wrapped in his signature down-to-earth style.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
The three-bedroom, five-bathroom main house was renovated in a blend of historic and modern European farmhouse styles, with five fireplaces and aged white hardwood floors throughout giving the dwelling a cozy, down-to-earth feel.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Catherine Habgood
september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Pleasant sounds, tastes, feelings, and aromas are high on the priority list for this warm, down-to-earth sign.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
Hot Ones host Sean Evans delivered a poignant motivational speech during a surprise appearance on popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 3 livestream on Wednesday, offering insight and advice related to patience and perseverance wrapped in his signature down-to-earth style.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
The three-bedroom, five-bathroom main house was renovated in a blend of historic and modern European farmhouse styles, with five fireplaces and aged white hardwood floors throughout giving the dwelling a cozy, down-to-earth feel.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-earth
Adjective
-
From bright, bold hard-shell spinners to the humble duffel bag, carry-on luggage comes in seemingly endless varieties.—
Sal Vaglica,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Well, maybe not cheering, exactly, but at least nodding in mild appreciation at a movie that realizes its humble and happy purpose.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Spanberger, who served in the CIA before running for Congress in 2018, has cultivated a reputation as a pragmatic centrist.—
Margaret Barthel,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The people of Gaza desperately need pragmatic solutions.—
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This meek performance prompted a furious reaction from the fanbase.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Tessa Thompson stars as the willful heroine, married to a rather meek academic, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), who’s angling for an important university position.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2024, New York state banned realistic school lockdown drills, barring the use of props, actors, or simulations.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The common ingredients are incredible storytellers who are excited about trying to make a series that feels authentic and realistic, and maybe feels familiar, but in a way that also feels elevated and sophisticated.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In Virginia, moderate Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and congresswoman, has maintained a modest lead over Republican nominee, Winsome Earle-Sears, the state's current lieutenant governor.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Its modest 10 cubic feet of cargo space isn't exactly designed for grocery hauls.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Dirty Truths reminds us that renewal can be both beautiful and practical.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The canals and pond, which were aggregately 193,000 cubic meters in volume and appear to have no practical purpose, would have taken 255,000 days of labor by a single individual.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-earth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-earth. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share