Downright vs. Upright — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 26, 2024
Downright is typically used to intensify the severity or absoluteness of a quality, whereas upright refers to honesty or vertical position.
Difference Between Downright and Upright
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Downright often intensifies descriptions, enhancing adjectives or adverbs to express extremity or totality, such as "downright impossible." Whereas, upright usually describes a person's moral rectitude or a physical posture that is straight and vertical.
Downright can be used in contexts that convey complete and utter situations, implying no ambiguity, like "downright deceitful." On the other hand, upright is commonly associated with ethical behavior and integrity, as in someone being described as an "upright citizen."
In usage, downright serves as an adverb, modifying adjectives to strengthen their meaning, for instance, "downright brilliant." While, upright can function as both an adjective and a noun, describing a person’s upright posture or referring to objects like an upright piano.
The term downright does not carry moral implications but rather emphasizes the degree of a trait. In contrast, upright is imbued with moral connotations, frequently used to commend virtues such as honesty and decency.
Downright is purely descriptive and tends to be subjective, focusing on the speaker's perspective towards an extent or degree. Whereas, upright not only describes physical straightness but also universally recognized moral qualities, reflecting broader societal values.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adverb
Adjective, Noun
Connotation
Intensity, totality
Moral integrity, vertical alignment
Usage in Sentences
Used with adjectives/adverbs
Describes posture or moral character
Moral Implication
None
Often implies positive moral qualities
Common Contexts
Descriptive, often subjective
Ethical, physical postures
Compare with Definitions
Downright
Plainly, clearly.
That's downright clever!
Upright
Honest, honorable.
She is known for her upright character.
Downright
Really, genuinely.
That's downright impressive.
Upright
Perpendicular to the ground.
Keep the post upright while the concrete sets.
Downright
Absolutely, thoroughly.
His answer was downright rude.
Upright
Righteous, ethical.
He led an upright life.
Downright
Utterly, entirely.
The plan failed downright.
Upright
Erect, vertical.
The statue stands upright.
Downright
Thoroughgoing; unequivocal
A downright lie.
Upright
Straight, unbent.
He keeps an upright posture.
Downright
Forthright; candid.
Upright
Being in a vertical position or direction
An upright post.
Downright
Thoroughly; absolutely.
Upright
Erect in posture or carriage
"She sat with grim determination, upright as a darning needle stuck in a board" (Harriet Beecher Stowe).
Downright
(obsolete) Directed vertically; coming straight down.
Upright
Adhering strictly to moral principles; righteous.
Downright
Directly to the point; plain
Upright
Designed with the pedals below the seat to allow an erect posture rather than a reclining one
An upright bike.
Downright
Using plain direct language; accustomed to express opinions directly and bluntly; blunt.
Upright
Vertically
Walk upright.
Downright
Complete; absolute
Upright
A perpendicular position; verticality.
Downright
Really; actually; quite
He wasn’t just cool to me, he was downright rude.
Upright
Something, such as a goalpost, that stands upright.
Downright
(obsolete) Straight down; perpendicularly.
Upright
An upright piano.
Downright
(obsolete) Plainly, unambiguously; directly.
Upright
An upright bicycle.
Downright
(obsolete) Without delay; at once.
Upright
To restore to an upright position
The tow truck uprighted the overturned tractor trailer.
Downright
Straight down; perpendicularly.
Upright
Vertical; erect
I was standing upright, waiting for my orders.
Downright
In plain terms; without ceremony.
We shall chide downright, if I longer stay.
Upright
In its proper orientation; not overturned.
My brother didn't get angry when his son knocked over the lamp; he simply called the boy over and helped him set it upright again.
Downright
Without delay; at once; completely.
She fell downright into a fit.
Upright
Greater in height than breadth.
Downright
Plain; direct; forthright; unceremonious; blunt; positive; as, he spoke in his downright way.
A man of plain, downright character.
Upright
(figuratively) Of good morals; practicing ethical values.
Downright
Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as, downright atheism.
The downright impossibilities charged upon it.
Gloomy fancies which in her amounted to downright insanity.
Upright
(of a golf club) Having the head approximately at a right angle with the shaft.
Downright
Characterized by plain blunt honesty;
A downright answer
A downright kind of person
Upright
In or into an upright position.
Downright
Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers;
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
Upright
Any vertical part of a structure.
Downright
Thoroughgoing;
He is outright dishonest
Upright
(sports) A goal post.
Upright
(slang) A leg
Upright
A word clued by the successive initial, middle, or final letters of the cross-lights in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
Upright
(informal) An upright piano.
Upright
(informal) An upright arcade game cabinet.
Upright
(transitive) To set upright or stand back up (something that has fallen).
Upright
In an erect position or posture; perpendicular; vertical, or nearly vertical; pointing upward; as, an upright tree.
With chattering teeth, and bristling hair upright.
All have their ears upright.
Upright
Morally erect; having rectitude; honest; just; as, a man upright in all his ways.
And that man [Job] was perfect and upright.
Upright
Conformable to moral rectitude.
Conscience rewards upright conduct with pleasure.
Upright
Stretched out face upward; flat on the back.
Upright
Designating a club in which the head is approximately at a right angle with the shaft.
Upright
Something standing upright, as a piece of timber in a building. See Illust. of Frame.
Upright
A tool made from a flat strip of steel with chisel edges at both ends, bent into horseshoe, the opening between the cutting edges being adjustable, used for reducing splits to skeins. Called in full upright shave.
Upright
The vertical part of a goalpost, especially the part above the horizontal bar; as, a field goal directly between the uprights.
Upright
A vertical structural member as a post or stake;
The ball sailed between the uprights
Upright
A piano with a vertical sounding board
Upright
In a vertical position; not sloping;
An upright post
Upright
Of moral excellence;
A genuinely good person
A just cause
An upright and respectable man
The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous
Upright
Erect in posture;
Behind him sat old man Arthur; he was straight with something angry in his attitude
Stood defiantly with unbowed back
Upright
Maintaining an erect position;
Standing timber
Many buildings were still standing
Upright
Upright in position or posture;
An erect stature
Erect flower stalks
For a dog, an erect tail indicates aggression
A column still vertical amid the ruins
He sat bolt upright
Common Curiosities
What does "upright" mean when describing a person?
It refers to someone who is morally good or honest.
Can "downright" be used in formal writing?
Yes, but it tends to be more common in informal contexts.
What are synonyms for "upright" when referring to posture?
Vertical, erect, and perpendicular are some synonyms.
How does the usage of "downright" differ from "very"?
"Downright" intensifies to a higher degree and often implies an extreme condition.
Are there synonyms for "downright"?
Yes, synonyms include absolutely, completely, and totally.
What does "downright" mean?
It means completely or totally, often used to emphasize the degree of something.
Is "upright" only used to describe people?
No, it can also describe objects that are in a vertical position or postures.
Can "upright" describe something other than physical position?
Yes, it can refer to moral uprightness as well.
Is "downright" a negative word?
It is neutral; its positive or negative connotation depends on the context.
How does "upright" reflect on someone’s character?
It usually indicates integrity and honesty.
Is "upright" often used in everyday conversation?
Yes, especially in contexts discussing moral qualities or physical positions.
What is the difference between "upright" and "straight"?
"Upright" often carries a moral connotation or verticality, whereas "straight" typically refers to linear alignment.
Does "downright" have an opposite?
Not directly, though minimally or slightly could be used to imply a lesser degree.
Can "downright" modify any adjective?
Generally, it is used with adjectives that denote extremeness or significant qualities.
Is there a physical tool associated with ensuring something is "upright"?
Yes, a level or plumb line can be used to check vertical alignment.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
