down-to-earth
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for down-to-earth, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Practical, sensible and realistic, without pretension or grand ideas.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
unpretentious
level-headed
Antonyms
How to use down-to-earth
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
down-to-earth approach
refreshingly down-to-earth
down-to-earth advice
Always complimentary. Hyphenated before a noun (a down-to-earth manager) and usually hyphenated after a linking verb too (he is down-to-earth), though unhyphenated forms appear.
Frequently asked questions
Is calling someone down-to-earth a compliment?
Yes. It says the person is modest, realistic and easy to deal with, especially when they might be expected to be grand or distant. It is one of the safest compliments in English.
What is the difference between down-to-earth and earthy?
Down-to-earth is about temperament: practical and unpretentious. Earthy is about flavour, smell or plain-spokenness, and often suggests a robust, slightly coarse quality.
What is the opposite of down-to-earth?
For people, pretentious, aloof or self-important. For ideas, the opposite is fanciful or unrealistic, often expressed as having your head in the clouds.
