downright

[ doun-rahyt ]

adjective

1. thorough; absolute; out-and-out:

   a downright falsehood.

2. frankly direct; straightforward:

   a downright person.

   Synonyms: blunt, frank, open, forthright, candid

3. Archaic. directed straight downward:

   a downright blow.

adverb

1. completely or thoroughly:

   I'm not just upset—I'm downright angry.

downright

/ ˈdaʊnˌraɪt /

adjective

1. frank or straightforward; blunt

   downright speech

2. archaic.
   directed or pointing straight down

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   downright rude

   a downright certainty

Derived Forms

• ˈdownˌrightness, noun
• ˈdownˌrightly, adverb

Other Words From

• downrightly adverb
• downrightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of downright¹

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; down ¹, right

Example Sentences

He gathered fanciful and downright utopian artists and thinkers suggesting a path forward.

From Los Angeles Times

But please: Keep on tweeting out simplistic, misleading or downright false accusations in anonymity.

From Salon

Hollywood Hills A rabbit warren of steep, narrow, twisty streets and near-total lack of sidewalks make foot traffic in most of this hilly neighborhood not just challenging but downright dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

Others are pleased, but most, from all parties, offer a rather more fruitily negative view about the president-elect’s victory, ranging from the mildly concerned to the downright horrified.

From BBC

And the solution — regulating industry — seemed downright un-American.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• damned
• outright