downright

/ˈdaʊn.raɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdaʊn.raɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdaʊnraɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdaʊnraɪt/ (ame, ipa)

downright — 形容詞

  • downrightpositive
  • more downrightcomparative
  • most downrightsuperlative

1. used before a noun to show that something bad is present in a full and unmistaka

1.形容詞B2
釋義

十足；徹底

壞情況完整而強烈地存在

used before a noun to show that something bad is present in a full and unmistakable way, such as downright cruelty or downright chaos.

例句

Leaving the dog outside all night was downright cruelty.

把狗整晚留在外面，真是十足的殘忍。

downright + noun for a strongly negative judgment

The delay turned a small mistake into downright chaos at the airport.

這場延誤把一個小失誤變成機場裡徹底的混亂。

collocation: downright chaos

同義詞
  • absolute

    very close in meaning, often slightly stronger and more formal

  • total

    similar, but often sounds less emotional than downright

  • complete

    emphasizes nothing is lacking, with a calmer tone

反義詞
  • slight

    small in degree rather than extreme

  • limited

    restricted in amount or effect, not full or sweeping

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

❌The mess was downright.
✅It was downright chaos.
💡adjective downright must appear before a noun; it cannot stand alone after a linking verb.

2. used before a noun when something deserves a stronger negative label than it fir

2.形容詞C1
釋義

根本就是

表示該用更重的負面詞判定

used before a noun when something deserves a stronger negative label than it first seemed to deserve.

例句

What began as teasing turned into downright bullying by lunch.

原本只是取笑，到了午餐前根本就是霸凌了。

turn into downright + noun after re-evaluation

The landlord's service fee was a downright scam.

房東收的服務費根本就是詐騙。

downright + noun for a harsher label

同義詞
  • outright

    close in meaning, especially for lie, fraud, or refusal

  • sheer

    can also strengthen a negative noun, but sounds less like a revised judgment

  • pure

    informal and emotive, often in spoken English

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

❌The fee was downright.
✅The fee was a downright scam.
💡this sense needs a following noun that names the stronger negative judgment.

3. speaking or behaving in a very direct way, without softening what you mean.

3.形容詞C1
釋義

直率的

說話做事很直接，不拐彎

speaking or behaving in a very direct way, without softening what you mean.

例句

Daichi gave a downright answer when the manager asked about overtime.

經理問到加班時，Daichi 給了一個很直率的回答。

downright + answer for direct speech

Shirin's downright manner can sound rude to new clients.

Shirin 直率的作風，對新客戶來說可能顯得無禮。

downright manner

同義詞
  • frank

    honest and open, often with a slightly warmer tone

  • blunt

    more likely to suggest that the directness may hurt someone

  • direct

    broader and more neutral than downright

反義詞
  • 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 — 副詞