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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of downright
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025
College football can get downright petty at times.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Charlie, Rachel and Mike’s confessions range between youthfully jerky to downright repugnant.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downright
Adjective
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
College football can get downright petty at times.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Adverb
Fellow scientists were skeptical of the theory, while the chemical industry was downright hostile.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Charlie, Rachel and Mike’s confessions range between youthfully jerky to downright repugnant.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downright
Adjective
-
The store’s abrupt closing has been the latest setback for the polarizing business, which has faced a roller coaster of openings and closures over the past year.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The following morning brought an abrupt wake-up call.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On the Base — the area above the sheer cliffs that encircle Tristan and below Queen Mary’s Peak — a group herds sheep down from the mountain.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
-
What’s harder to recreate — especially with today’s labor and materials costs — is the level of craftsmanship and the sheer weight of the build, Sadek said.—
David Caraccio
April 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Those undeserving objects of their contempt absolutely ought to be afforded such minimal dividing space.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
But if your current option is overpriced cable or slower DSL, 5G home internet is absolutely worth considering.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The medical examiner ruled Mitchell's death a homicide from blunt force trauma, according to prosecutors.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Some are preaching nirvana or being blunt about impending job loss while appearing to be oblivious to the fact that most people don’t want a world without work.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After letting the final Bosnian penalty slip under his reach on Tuesday, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma remained on his knees, putting his hands on his head in utter disbelief.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The transition from agricultural employment to factory employment involved wrenching mass migration, the utter misery of the Great Depression (as well as other brutal recessions, now faded from collective memory), and the painful dealmaking of the New Deal.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The animals can recover from their cold-stunned state.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
-
All told, the five sites collected 5,195 dead or cold-stunned iguanas.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi Even if not a huge art buff, take the five minutes to wander to the Contarelli chapel inside this small catholic church which is just a short stroll from the Pantheon.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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That’s why Mack is reluctant to hazard a guess as to how many more wins this could mean this season for the Royals, who are seeking to get back to the postseason after falling short last year in the wake of their 2024 breakthrough.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These are the absolute best bonds.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
But this team’s elite farm system — perhaps the absolute top in the NHL — will provide exactly that in the years to come.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downright. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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