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
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Recent Examples of downright
Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
And it’s been replaced by the grim reality that this team is one bad-looking MRI away from downright irrelevance.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
While many dangerous plants are unlikely to appear in a flower garden, there are some weeds that produce beautiful flowers and tempting berries that may look right at home next to your camellias, but are downright deadly.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downright
Adjective
College football can get downright petty at times.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
And it’s been replaced by the grim reality that this team is one bad-looking MRI away from downright irrelevance.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Adverb
For every place that greets visitors with warmth and joy, there are others where the welcome is cooler, guarded, or even downright unfriendly.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
While many dangerous plants are unlikely to appear in a flower garden, there are some weeds that produce beautiful flowers and tempting berries that may look right at home next to your camellias, but are downright deadly.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downright
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downright
Adjective
-
Its ride came to an abrupt end when eventual state runner-up Green Mountain snubbed it in the second round.—
Alissa Noe,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Diplomatic missions around the world have previously burnt documents after abrupt closures or crisis situations.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the sheer relentlessness of its joke-cracking bodes well for future, riskier enterprises — as, for that matter, does the natural spark between Matarazzo’s repeatedly foiled would-be swagger and Giambrone’s disarming mama’s-boy act.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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This luminous pastel shade can be worn as a sheer, frosted finish or with a bit more pigment.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
14 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Chandran's skin, prepped by Joanna Czech with the Swiss Perfection collection, served as a flawless canvas for her makeup, composed of gorgeous shades of honey and brown that work with absolutely anything—but especially her gorgeous, green gown.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
15 Mar. 2026
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The packed house of metal fans absolutely ate up the all-too-short set of Sabbath material — consisting of six songs (one of which is really an intro/set-up for another) that ran some 50 minutes.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the rest is simply informative, neither coy nor overly blunt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
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Both victims died due to multiple blunt force injuries, according to the CCMEO report.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When Rob revealed his true identity on the Season 4 finale, Maura’s reaction was one of utter shock.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The biggest question many are asking is why the Jets would bring back Smith after his first tenure with the team was an utter disaster.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The animals can recover from their cold-stunned state.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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All told, the five sites collected 5,195 dead or cold-stunned iguanas.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Most have direct, short-ish flights from the East Coast, making an 11th-hour spring break trip that much easier to pull off.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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The tech came on a play in which Flagg drove through the lane with the ball and attempted a short shot.—
R.J. Coyle,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Expecting an absolute dogfight in this one, which is right up Hanover’s alley.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Just cultivating and just feeding that division and those just absolute silly fights.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downright. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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