straightaway 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstrāt-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
Definition of straightawaynext
1
as in immediate
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time her first novel was a straightaway success

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course the doomed ship was headed on a straightaway course in the path of the iceberg

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straightaway

2 of 2

adverb

ˌstrāt-ə-ˈwā How to pronounce straightaway (audio)
as in immediately
without delay he got to the hospital, and straightaway he was admitted and given intravenous fluids

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of straightaway
Adjective
Roman Martin answered Johnson with a deep shot to straightaway center field, tying the score at 1-1. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 29 May 2026 And later, Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages hit a solo blast to straightaway center. — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Adverb
On a separate note, art, fertility and hobbies will bring you so much joy — so focus on these areas rather than just diving straightaway into work. — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026 Money was tight and, in order to bank it straightaway, Jane Austen had no option but to discount it at a loss, as details on the back show. — Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for straightaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightaway
  1. immediate
  2. linear
  3. immediately
  4. instantaneous
  5. direct
  6. promptly
  7. instant
  8. straight
Adjective
  • There’s non-kaiju human death, too, including a flashback to the immediate aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing in which a bloodied grandfather discovers the charred remains of his daughter and grandson.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Learn More › Two hunting equipment manufacturers, Latitude Outdoors and Hunt Arsenal, have issued immediate stop-use notices following reports of potentially dangerous equipment failures.
    — Erik Barber, Outdoor Life, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of immediate
Adjective
  • Among linear broadcasters, MDTV and ANTV both have an appetite for imports.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Of course, running this kind of remote frame generation on a linear video is very different from applying it to a real-time interactive game.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of linear
Adverb
  • The Monterey County district attorney’s office did not immediately respond to questions from The Times.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Spokespersons for Hinojosa and Talarico did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of immediately
Adjective
  • Both have the same manually wound movement (the in-house CH 29-535 PS Q) with apertures for day/night, day, month, leap year, and moon phases, plus an instantaneous 30-minute counter and a small seconds subdial.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Commissioner Rob Manfred has portrayed the instantaneous lockout as a means of moving the talks along.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of instantaneous
Adjective
  • In her remarks, Wintour made the evening’s only direct reference to the midterms, reminiscing about attending a fundraising event for James Talarico, who successfully flipped Texas in the race for the Senate last night, alongside Burch.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In 1994, Defense Secretary Les Aspin rescinded the risk rule policy but kept in place the exclusion that barred women from serving in direct ground combat units below the brigade level.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of direct
Adverb
  • People with bloody diarrhea, signs of dehydration, or other severe symptoms should seek medical attention promptly, the Health Department said.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Courts in Brazil and Norway issued preliminary injunctions blocking the terms after organizations in those countries promptly filed lawsuits, Nieman Lab reported.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of promptly
Adjective
  • The Thickening Therapy Collection delivers instant volume and is packed with vegan collagen and biotin to support thicker, fuller-looking hair.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • High vamps gained instant popularity earlier this year when Hailey Bieber donned Reformation’s Inez Pumps, and Kendall Jenner and Katie Holmes wore glove flats.
    — Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of instant
Adjective
  • That explains how, in a system in which all politicians purport to follow their conscience, nearly every consequential issue is decided by a straight party vote.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Hertl's second power-play goal of the night — and the second allowed by the Penguins' penalty kill at home — sent Pittsburgh to a third straight loss.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of straight

Browse Nearby Words

straight arrows
straightaway
straightbred
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Straightaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightaway. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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