1
as in abrupt
being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner
rural folks are often known for their downright speech, as they are generally not ones to beat around the bush
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
that's a downright lie, and you know it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in absolutely
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downright
A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Duncan in particular seems to get turned around a lot, and HBO’s final trailer promises plenty of action and, yes, some drama, but compared with the War Show vibe of the original GoT trailer, this is a downright comedy.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025
Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 May 2026
Diamond wrote this waltz-time weeper with Carole Bayer Sager, who beat him to the punch with her own recording; his version is haunted, hers downright macabre.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for downright
Adjective
Though Robby Hoddinott was responsible for the track’s prickly guitar lead, the backing of bassist-pal Dave Torbert from New Riders of the Purple Sage elevates Weir and the song’s rhythmic bottom to something uplifting and downright prancy.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 11 Jan. 2026
Duncan in particular seems to get turned around a lot, and HBO’s final trailer promises plenty of action and, yes, some drama, but compared with the War Show vibe of the original GoT trailer, this is a downright comedy.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025
Adverb
If that strikes you as twee or downright silly, Olivia Newman‘s touchy-feely weepie is not on your wavelength.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 May 2026
Diamond wrote this waltz-time weeper with Carole Bayer Sager, who beat him to the punch with her own recording; his version is haunted, hers downright macabre.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for downright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downright
Adjective
-
Certain medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgical removal of the ovaries, can also trigger an earlier or more abrupt transition, says Batur.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
In their first must-win game of these playoffs, the Ducks will have to make an abrupt about face from Game 3 in order to even their best-of-seven, second-round series in Sunday’s Game 4.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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Given the sheer number of stocks offering dividends, identifying the right ones is not always straightforward.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
-
Not to mention, there’s the sheer natural beauty of the Verde River and the red-rock formations the region is known for.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
Adverb
-
Airport theory is a travel hack most experts warn against in which flyers arrive to the airport with the absolutely minimum amount of time necessary to make their flight, often getting to their gate just before the doors close to be the last person to board.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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Once the jockey is in the saddle, there is absolutely nothing to be done.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Asked if the best players have to be better, Dahlin offered a blunt response in the locker room after the game.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The slick creatures, with their blunt heads and whiskers, are sometimes easy to spot in the water, but the restaurants that have perfected eating them are a bit harder to find.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The New York Knicks took care of business, to say the least, against the Philadelphia 76ers with another utter demolition on the road in a close-out game.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The obituaries, social media posts and GoFundMe pages capture the utter despair of the families, though none of them reckon with the decision not to get the vitamin K shot.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Adverb
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It will be equipped to process and service new steel products coming down the line at Big River like galvanized and cold-rolled steel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Apr. 2026
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Lay a Rug or Foam Tiles on the Floor Concrete basement floors radiate cold back up into the space, but an easy way to stop it is to cover the floor.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Lombard’s strong arm and slick glove would be underutilized if positioned away from short or third.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
-
The report said prosecutors at the time sought a significantly longer sentence, but a judge imposed a shorter term that drew criticism from the district attorney’s office.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
And amidst delicate stripes, elastic waistbands, and flowing silhouettes, pajama pants have gone from a passing trend to an absolute staple of the contemporary wardrobe.—
Marilú Almaguer,
Glamour,
9 May 2026
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Just a force on the mound, and an absolute bulldog in terms of innings.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downright. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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