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
Katie Chang, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Getty The scenario touched a nerve among other Reddit users who chimed in with sympathy and suggestions—some humorous, others passive-aggressive, and a few downright devious.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 July 2025
Crochet All Day Crochet is to summer what mohair is to winter—cool, textural, and just a downright vibe.
—Talia Abbas, Vogue, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for downright
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.
Adverb
Plus, the expansive views of the city, especially the Imperial Palace and Mount Fuji, are downright dreamy.
—Katie Chang, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Getty The scenario touched a nerve among other Reddit users who chimed in with sympathy and suggestions—some humorous, others passive-aggressive, and a few downright devious.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Adjective
An early scene between Lois and Clark beautifully sets up the conflict in their relationship between his positivity and sunny outlook for the world and her downright cynicism.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 July 2025
Crochet All Day Crochet is to summer what mohair is to winter—cool, textural, and just a downright vibe.
—Talia Abbas, Vogue, 7 July 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 21 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share