down·right
ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt 
1
archaic
: straight down
2
: absolutely sense 1a
downright handsome
downright mean
3
obsolete
: forthright
Examples of downright in a Sentence
Adverb
The movie was downright stupid.
It's very difficult, if not downright impossible.
Adjective
rural folks are often known for their downright speech, as they are generally not ones to beat around the bush
that's a downright lie, and you know it
Recent Examples on the Web
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Plus, Minnesota's backfield tandem of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason is downright scary.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Their feud turns personal while the situation for the town's residents grows explosive, bloody and downright bonkers.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downright
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Adverb
Twice in the past two years, buyout firms have circled Macy’s, attracted not so much to its long-term potential as a business but downright salivating over the real estate its stores occupy.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Plus, Minnesota's backfield tandem of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason is downright scary.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The hybrid assisted off-the-line sprint becomes a wall of torque and downright anger past 4,000 RPM.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Their feud turns personal while the situation for the town's residents grows explosive, bloody and downright bonkers.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downright
Cite this Entry
“Downright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downright. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downright
1 of 2 adverb
down·right
-ˌrīt
: in a complete and absolute manner
that was downright stupid
downright
2 of 2 adjective1
: absolute sense 3, utter
a downright lie
downrightly
adverb
downrightness
noun
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