downright
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for downright, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adverb — Thoroughly or absolutely — used to intensify an adjective.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adverb
Thoroughly or absolutely — used to intensify an adjective.
“That comment was downright rude.”
Opposites
How to use downright
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
downright rude
downright dangerous
downright impossible
Etymology
From Middle English dounright, from doun ("down") plus right, originally meaning "straight down" before shifting to mean "utterly" or "plainly."
Full origin of downright →Frequently asked questions
What does “downright” mean?
The word “downright” means thoroughly or absolutely — used to intensify an adjective. In plain terms, used before an adjective to mean "completely" or "absolutely" — as in "downright rude" or "downright impossible.".
How do you pronounce “downright”?
“Downright” is pronounced DOWN-ryt (/ˈdaʊnɹaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “downright” in a sentence?
Here is “downright” used in a sentence: “That comment was downright rude.”
What part of speech is “downright”?
Depending on how it is used, “downright” can be an adverb and an adjective.
Where does the word “downright” come from?
The word “downright” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dounright, from doun ("down") plus right, originally meaning "straight down" before shifting to mean "utterly" or "plainly.".
Is “downright” a common word?
“Downright” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “downright” have?
“Downright” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: thoroughly or absolutely — used to intensify an adjective.
