downright

1 of 2

adverb

down·​right ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt 

1

archaic : straight down

2

: absolutely sense 1a

downright handsome

downright mean

3

obsolete : forthright

downright

2 of 2

adjective

1

archaic : directed vertically downward

2

: outright, thorough

a downright lie

3

: plain, blunt

stories he had heard of her downright tongue

—Angus Wilson

downrightly adverb

downrightness noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• abrupt
• bluff
• blunt
• brusque
• brusk
• crusty
• curt
• short
• short-spoken
• snippy
• unceremonious

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

Adverb

And, of course, their spending — along with nearly everyone else’s — is downright modest when compared to their freewheeling NL West archrivals in Los Angeles. —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025

Winter weather—with its icy winds, low humidity, and relentless indoor heating—can be downright brutal on your skin. —Tira Urquhart, Essence, 29 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Credit the Yankees’ aggressiveness for keeping themselves in the driver’s seat of the American League East where their other four rivals continue to tip-toe — or in the case of the Blue Jays, downright flounder. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025

The more than two decades since Half-Life 2's release have been filled with plenty of rumors and hints about Half-Life 3, ranging from the official-ish to the thin to the downright misleading. —Ars Technica, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

downright

1 of 2 adverb

down·​right -ˌrīt 

: in a complete and absolute manner

that was downright stupid

downright

2 of 2 adjective

1

: absolute sense 3, utter

a downright lie

2

: outspoken, blunt

downright country people

downrightly adverb

downrightness noun