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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of down-to-earth
But the most welcome voice in the film is that of Linda, straightforward and down-to-earth.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
At a different law school event the previous year, Roberts revealed a more down-to-earth reason why his predecessor – Chief Justice William Rehnquist − skipped one of President Ronald Reagan’s addresses.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Her husband and two young children were waiting for her at the finish line, and Meyers Taylor is about as down-to-earth as an elite athlete can get.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
McNeil remains a popular, hard-working member of the squad known for being quiet and down-to-earth.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
At a different law school event the previous year, Roberts revealed a more down-to-earth reason why his predecessor – Chief Justice William Rehnquist − skipped one of President Ronald Reagan’s addresses.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Her husband and two young children were waiting for her at the finish line, and Meyers Taylor is about as down-to-earth as an elite athlete can get.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
McNeil remains a popular, hard-working member of the squad known for being quiet and down-to-earth.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for down-to-earth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-earth
Adjective
-
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with this, but outsourcing the writing to professionals only underscored the degree to which this humble document, once meant to blunt the puffery of the cover letter, had now become the leading weapon in the job seeker’s arsenal.—
Stephen Mihm,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Sporks have come a long way from their humble beginnings in Rhode Island, and as the traveler’s preferred eating utensil, they’re destined to go ever further.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many are pragmatic, serious, non-populists.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Every Connecticut citizen is better off from Lamont’s playbook of pragmatic resistance.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The other, meek and mild-mannered.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The team were meek in defeat, but after a weekend carousing and communing in central London, Newcastle fans arrived at Wembley with a collective hangover.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The bottom line Getting out of debt right now is less about finding a single perfect solution and more about taking targeted, realistic action based on your current situation.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
This one was far more realistic.—
Ella Chakarian,
Rolling Stone,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The other point is how the Marlins could replace a player of Alcantara’s talent for that modest-by-baseball-standards salary.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Set a modest milestone for today, then show your work to someone who can offer kind feedback.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Your big vision is about to meet a practical checkpoint.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His practical advice fares better than both his theories and his pallid attempts at profundity.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-earth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-earth. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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