downright
/ˈdaʊn.raɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdaʊn.raɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdaʊnraɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdaʊnraɪt/ (ame, ipa)
downright — adjective
- downrightpositive
- more downrightcomparative
- most downrightsuperlative
1. used before a noun to show that something bad is present in a full and unmistaka
used before a noun to show that something bad is present in a full and unmistakable way, such as downright cruelty or downright chaos.
Leaving the dog outside all night was downright cruelty.
downright + noun for a strongly negative judgment
The delay turned a small mistake into downright chaos at the airport.
collocation: downright chaos
Paying sixty dollars for that soup was downright robbery.
The coach called the team's first half a downright embarrassment.
After months of excuses, the broken heater felt like downright neglect.
文法句型
downright + noun (cruelty, chaos, robbery, embarrassment, neglect)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun. This sense intensifies a negative label you have already chosen, rather than introducing a new comparison or contrast.
常見錯誤
2. used before a noun when something deserves a stronger negative label than it fir
used before a noun when something deserves a stronger negative label than it first seemed to deserve.
What began as teasing turned into downright bullying by lunch.
turn into downright + noun after re-evaluation
The landlord's service fee was a downright scam.
downright + noun for a harsher label
The missing safety rail turned the shortcut into downright negligence.
Her apology email felt like downright mockery to the whole team.
What sounded like stubbornness became downright cruelty once we knew the facts.
文法句型
turn into downright + noun
not just X but downright + noun
用法筆記
Often used when a speaker upgrades a judgment after seeing more evidence. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense focuses on the shift to a harsher label, not simply the strength of that label.
常見錯誤
3. speaking or behaving in a very direct way, without softening what you mean.
speaking or behaving in a very direct way, without softening what you mean.
Daichi gave a downright answer when the manager asked about overtime.
downright + answer for direct speech
Shirin's downright manner can sound rude to new clients.
downright manner
The reporter's downright questions left the mayor no room to hide.
Grandma admired Lucas for being downright with everyone at dinner.
Her downright refusal surprised everyone at the committee table.
- tactful
careful not to upset or offend people
- diplomatic
chooses words carefully to avoid conflict
文法句型
be downright with + person
downright + answer / manner / question / refusal
用法筆記
Usually describes a person's tone or way of dealing with others. It can sound approving when honesty is useful, but critical when the directness feels rude.
downright — adverb
1. used to make a negative or unpleasant statement stronger, meaning completely or
used to make a negative or unpleasant statement stronger, meaning completely or in a very noticeable way.
The soup was downright cold by the time it reached us.
downright + adjective for strong negative emphasis
After twelve hours awake, Joaquín felt downright sick on the bus.
felt downright + adjective
The clerk was downright rude when Lakshmi asked for help.
Waiting outside in wet socks was downright miserable for the children.
By midnight, the silence in the hospital hall felt downright eerie.
- absolutely
broader and can strengthen positive, negative, or neutral statements
- utterly
often stronger and slightly more literary
- really
the everyday choice, but weaker and less judgmental
- positively
formal or old-fashioned in some intensifying uses
文法句型
downright + adjective
feel / seem + downright + adjective
用法筆記
Most often appears before negative adjectives such as rude, cruel, unfair, or silly. Distinguish from the adjective senses: as an adverb, downright strengthens a description rather than naming the thing itself.