downright Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite characterized by plain blunt honesty
    • a downright answer
    • a downright kind of person
  2. adjective satellite complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
    sheer; rank; right-down; out-and-out; absolute.
    • absolute freedom
    • an absolute dimwit
    • a downright lie
    • out-and-out mayhem
    • an out-and-out lie
    • a rank outsider
    • many right-down vices
    • got the job through sheer persistence
    • sheer stupidity
  3. adverb thoroughgoing
    • he is outright dishonest

WordNet

Down"right` adverb
Definitions
  1. Straight down; perpendicularly.
  2. In plain terms; without ceremony.
    We shall chide downright, id I longer stay. Shak.
  3. Without delay; at once; completely. Obs.
    She fell downright into a fit. Arbuthnot.
Down"right` adjective
Definitions
  1. Plain; direct; unceremonious; blunt; positive; as, he spoke in his downright way.
    A man of plain, downright character. Sir W. Scott.
  2. Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as, downright atheism.
    The downright impossibilities charged upon it. South.
    Gloomy fancies which in her amounted to downright insanity. Prescott.
    -- Down"right`ly, adv. -- Down"right`ness, n.

Webster 1913