downright
pronunciation
How to pronounce downright in British English:
UK [ˈdaʊnraɪt]
How to pronounce downright in American English:
US [ˈdaʊnˌraɪt]
-
- Adjective:
- characterized by plain blunt honesty
- complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
-
- Adverb:
- thoroughgoing
Word Origin
- downright (adv.)
- c. 1200, "straight down," from down (adv.) + right (adj.1). Meaning "thoroughly" attested from c. 1300. Old English had dunrihte "downwards," and inverted form right-down is attested 17c.
Synonym
Example
- 1. But enforcement of the rules has been inconsistent and sometimes downright hypocritical .
- 2. But some leading voices in silicon valley sound downright despondent about what isn 't happening there .
- 3. Tempting fate is never wise ; tempting a flu pandemic is downright foolish .
- 4. But as my friend 's query suggested , some gestures were more helpful than others , and a few were downright annoying .
- 5. But in the more centrist region around orlando and tampa , those positions are suspect ; in the northern third of the state , they are downright unpopular .