downright — used to emphasize how bad or unpleasant something is; completely, thoroughly
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: used to emphasize how bad or unpleasant something is; completely, thoroughly
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdaʊnˌraɪt/
Example Sentences
- The Wi-Fi in this cafe is downright prehistoric - it's slower than a sloth on sleeping pills!
- His cooking skills are downright terrible - he can burn water.
- The weather today is downright miserable.
downright
ADVERB[/ˈdaʊnˌraɪt/]
used to emphasize how bad or unpleasant something is; completely, thoroughly
used to emphasize how bad or unpleasant something is; completely, thoroughly
Sitting upright, then facing outright fraud - downright devastating!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old English, 'downright' is a compound of 'down' (downward, to a lower position) and 'right' (directly, completely). The combination originally meant 'straight down' or 'completely downward', which evolved to mean 'thorough' or 'absolute' by extension.
Breakdown
down- (downward, to a lower position) + right (directly, completely, correctly). The compound emphasizes absolute or complete quality, as if something descends fully or directly without qualification.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The Wi-Fi in this cafe is downright prehistoric - it's slower than a sloth on sleeping pills!”
“His cooking skills are downright terrible - he can burn water.”
“The weather today is downright miserable.”
“She was downright furious when she found out about the betrayal.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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