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
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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
Her explosive personality and underhand tactics constantly antagonize Jenny, a down-to-earth woman who’s more or less content staying in her small hometown despite often being treated like an outsider.
—
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
The style of robes worn by Francis reflected his down-to-earth style.
—Chiara Rodriquez, USA Today, 1 May 2025
He’s regarded as someone who’s down-to-earth, a tremendous teammate and a dressing room cutup thanks to his quick and wry sense of humour.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The stuffy central banker and the down-to-earth businessmen got along well, and have formed a good-cop-bad-cop team trying to manage the never-ending threats from south of the border.
—Stephen Maher, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
The style of robes worn by Francis reflected his down-to-earth style.
—Chiara Rodriquez, USA Today, 1 May 2025
He’s regarded as someone who’s down-to-earth, a tremendous teammate and a dressing room cutup thanks to his quick and wry sense of humour.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The stuffy central banker and the down-to-earth businessmen got along well, and have formed a good-cop-bad-cop team trying to manage the never-ending threats from south of the border.
—Stephen Maher, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-earth
Adjective
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Improbably located right across the street from their humble abode is the upscale manse inhabited by the Falconers, a rich couple (Katherine Waterson, Chris Klein) who’ve raised only child Tiffany (Fina Strazza) to be a particularly stinging WASP.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
23 May 2025
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Each pits a young heroine of humble means against the formidable, possibly sinister lady of the estate; this time, that quintessential Nicole Kidman role is played by a serenely terrifying Julianne Moore.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Governance, therefore, needs a pragmatic approach tailored to organizational size, maturity and industry.—
Omar Turner,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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This is a pragmatic time to do it, as canceling the programs after Artemis III saves NASA billions of dollars in upgrading the rocket for a singular purpose: assembling a Lunar Gateway of questionable use.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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According to the latest report from L.A.’s film office, production days on location decreased more than 22 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with an already meek period in 2024.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
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Democrats, unable either to diagnose or to admit to their own failings, measured their victories in the meekest of triumphs, and seemed to have lost all sense of purpose, direction, and proportion.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Shutting down all gas plants isn’t realistic, at least not yet; even California still depends on gas for one-third of its electricity.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
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On Thursday, Hutchinson was asked how realistic a return would’ve been.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Those modest contracts won’t affect the Giants’ cap space immediately, since their cap hits fall below the team’s 51 most expensive contracts.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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The modest brick home, at just a bit over 1,000 square feet, was where Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, grew up.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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States warn there could be 'unprecedented chaos' Jeremy Feigenbaum, a lawyer representing the states challenging Trump's policy, stressed the practical problems of not having a national standard for citizenship while the executive order is being litigated.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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For a super-yacht, the vibe was surprisingly casual aboard—think practical expedition wear during the day and casual evening attire like wrap skirts and linen shirts at night.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-earth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-earth. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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