Straight — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb verb noun /ˈstrāt/

Meaning & Definition of Straight

Straight (adjective)

  1. free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities
  2. generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation
  3. lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method

Straight (adverb)

  1. in a straight manner

Straight (verb)

  1. straighten

Straight (noun)

  1. something that is straight
  2. a straight line or arrangement
  3. straightaway; especially, homestretch

Straight (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. free from irregularities or digressions in course

    "in the wide, open spaces of the West some rural roads are incredibly straight"

    similar: direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward
    related: unbent, uncurled, untwisted, undeviating, unswerving
    near: bowed, rounded, entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, turning, twined, twining, twisted, twisting, veering, warped, bending, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, curled, curling, curved, curving, looped, looping, spiral, spiraling, wavy, winding, meandering, weaving, devious, serpentine, sinuous, crooked, zigzag, zigzagging

  2. conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue

    "a store owner known and trusted for his straight dealings"

    similar: all right, decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, nice, right, right-minded, righteous, true, upright, virtuous
    related: correct, decorous, proper, seemly, high-minded, noble, principled, commendable, creditable, exemplary, legitimate, esteemed, law-abiding, menschy, reputable, respected, upstanding, worthy, blameless, clean, guiltless, immaculate, incorrupt, incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, unobjectionable, angelic, lily-white, pure, scrupulous, spotless, uncorrupted, unerring, goody-goody, moralistic, pharisaical, rectitudinous, sanctimonious, self-righteous
    opposite: bad, dishonest, dishonorable, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unethical, unrighteous, wicked, wrong
    near: improper, incorrect, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, perverted, reprobate, unprincipled, unscrupulous, atrocious, infamous, villainous, base, low, mean, vicious, vile, blameworthy, objectionable, offensive, iniquitous, nefarious, errant, erring, fallen

  3. free from added matter

    "would you like that whiskey straight or with soda?"

    similar: absolute, fine, neat, plain, pure, purified, refined, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed
    related: clarified, filtered, clean, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, rendered, tried, concentrated, full-bodied, strong, uncombined
    opposite: adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed
    near: befouled, besmirched, contaminated, corrupted, debased, defiled, fouled, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted, unclarified, amalgamated, blended, coalesced, combined, commingled, compounded, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, conjoined, fused, joined, linked, united, cheapened, doctored, watered-down

  4. free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions

    "you should be straight with your boss and tell him that you're not happy with the current situation"

    similar: candid, direct, forthcoming, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, freehearted, honest, open, openhearted, out-front, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straightforward, unguarded, unreserved, up-front
    related: artless, earnest, guileless, ingenuous, innocent, naive, natural, real, sincere, unaffected, undesigning, unpretending, unpretentious, outgoing, uninhibited, unrestrained, vocal, vociferous, abrupt, bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, curt, gruff, sharp, impertinent, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, tactless, thoughtless, uncivil, undiplomatic, ungracious, unmannerly, unsubtle
    opposite: dissembling, uncandid, unforthcoming
    near: inhibited, reserved, restrained, close-mouthed, laconic, quiet, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, ambiguous, circuitous, equivocal, evasive, diplomatic, politic, tactful, civil, considerate, courteous, polite

  5. going straight to the point clearly and firmly

    "a politician who can never give a straight answer to questions about his positions"

    similar: direct, forthright, foursquare, plain, straightforward
    related: aboveboard, candid, frank, free-spoken, honest, open, openhearted, outspoken, plainspoken, unguarded, unreserved, artless, earnest, sincere, uninhibited, unrestrained, abrupt, bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, gruff, point-blank, sharp, impolite, inconsiderate, rude, tactless, undiplomatic, true, truthful, veracious
    opposite: circuitous, indirect, roundabout
    near: circumlocutory, long-winded, prolix, verbose, wordy, inhibited, reserved, restrained, civil, courteous, polite, tactful, deceitful, lying, mendacious, untruthful, erroneous, fallacious, false, ambiguous, equivocal, evasive, misleading, double-dealing, hypocritical, two-faced

  6. not having one's mind affected by alcohol

    "I'll drive the car, since I seem to be the only one of us who is straight at the moment"

    similar: clearheaded, sober
    related: abstemious, abstinent, dry, teetotal, temperate, cool, level, steady
    opposite: blasted (slang), blind, blitzed (slang), blotto (slang), bombed, boozy, canned (slang), cockeyed, crocked, drunk, drunken, fried, gassed, hammered (slang), high, inebriate, inebriated, intoxicated, juiced (slang), lit, lit up, loaded (slang), looped, oiled (slang), pickled, pie-eyed, plastered, potted (slang), ripped (slang), sloshed (slang), smashed (slang), sottish, soused, sozzled, squiffed, stewed, stiff, stinking (slang), stoned, tanked (slang), tight, tipsy, wasted (slang), wiped out (slang)
    near: alcoholic, bibulous, crapulous, dipsomaniacal, maudlin, tiddly (chiefly British), befuddled, besotted, dopey, debauched, dissipated, dissolute

  7. following one after another without others coming in between

    "I was awake for two straight days"

    similar: back-to-back, consecutive, sequent, sequential, succeeding, successional, successive, in series
    related: serial, constant, continuous, uninterrupted, ensuing, following, later, next, posterior, subsequent
    opposite: inconsecutive, inconsequent, nonconsecutive, nonsequential

Straight (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in a direct line or course

    "when we got to the airport, we went straight to the baggage claim area"

    similar: dead, direct, directly, due, plumb, plump, right, straightway, as the crow flies
    opposite: indirectly
    near: circuitously, deviously, veeringly

  2. in an honest and direct manner

    "we gave it to him straight: his performance would have to improve—or he was out"

    similar: directly, forthrightly, foursquare, plain, plainly, straightforward, straightforwardly
    related: baldly, bluffly, candidly, frankly, honestly, openheartedly, openly, unguardedly, unreservedly, artlessly, earnestly, simply, sincerely, abruptly, bluntly, brusquely, curtly, gruffly, point-blank, sharply, impolitely, inconsiderately, rudely, tactlessly, truthfully, veraciously
    near: long-windedly, verbosely, wordily, civilly, courteously, diplomatically, politely, tactfully, deceitfully, mendaciously, untruthfully, erroneously, fallaciously, falsely, hypocritically, insincerely, ambiguously, circuitously, equivocally, evasively, indirectly

Related Entry: Straight off (adverb)

Straight off is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight off, not for straight.

  1. without delay

    "I told her straight off that I was not going to do that"

    similar: bang, directly, forthwith, headlong, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instanter, instantly, now, PDQ, plumb, presently, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right now, right off, straightaway, straightway, at once, in no time, off the bat, on a dime, on the double, on the spot
    related: away, freely, anon, momentarily, shortly, soon, apace, briskly, fast, fleetly, full tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly, abruptly, presto, suddenly, unexpectedly, hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly, exactly, opportunely, punctually, seasonably
    near: slowly, late, tardily

Related Entry: Straight-out (adjective)

Straight-out is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight-out, not for straight.

  1. having no exceptions or restrictions

    "the straight-out enmity between the two tennis players was unmistakable"

    similar: absolute, all-out, arrant, blank, blooming (chiefly British), bodacious (Southern & Midland), categorical, clean, complete, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, pure, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
    related: authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable, constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting, extreme, unrestricted, confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate, extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific
    near: doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

Related Entry: Straight arrow (noun)

Straight arrow is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight arrow, not for straight.

  1. as in prude, fuddy-duddy

    similar: fuddy-duddy, prude, killjoy, spoilsport, wet blanket, ascetic
    opposite: debauchee, decadent, hedonist, sensualist, sybarite, voluptuary, Cyrenaic, Epicurean, bon vivant, epicure, glutton, gourmand

Related Entry: Straight arrows (noun)

Straight arrows is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight arrows, not for straight.

  1. as in prudes, fuddy-duddies

    similar: fuddy-duddies, prudes, killjoys, spoilsports, wet blankets, ascetics
    opposite: debauchees, decadents, hedonists, sensualists, sybarites, voluptuaries, Cyrenaics, Epicureans, bons vivants, epicures, gluttons, gourmands

Related Entry: Straight shooter (noun)

Straight shooter is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight shooter, not for straight.

  1. as in square shooter

    similar: square shooter
    opposite: charlatan, deceiver, double-dealer, fake, faker, fraud, hypocrite, impostor, phony, bluffer, counterfeiter, dissembler, feigner, pretender, sham, fabricator, fabulist, fibber, liar, prevaricator, storyteller

Related Entry: Straight shooters (noun)

Straight shooters is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight shooters, not for straight.

  1. as in square shooters

    similar: square shooters
    opposite: charlatans, deceivers, double-dealers, fakers, fakes, frauds, hypocrites, impostors, phonies, bluffers, counterfeiters, dissemblers, feigners, pretenders, shams, fabricators, fabulists, fibbers, liars, prevaricators, storytellers

Related Entry: Straight-faced (adjective)

Straight-faced is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for straight-faced, not for straight.

  1. as in deadpan, expressionless

    similar: bland, blank, deadpan, dry, empty, expressionless, inexpressive, stone-faced, vacant, wooden, affectless, apathetic, cold-blooded, emotionless, impassible, impassive, numb, passionless, phlegmatic, stoic, stolid, undemonstrative, unemotional, cold, cool, dispassionate, unmoved, calm, collected, composed, imperturbable, unflappable, reserved, reticent, taciturn, enigmatic, impenetrable, inscrutable, aloof, bloodless, detached, indifferent, insensible, unconcerned, unsentimental, impersonal, objective, unresponsive
    opposite: demonstrative, emotional, fervent, fervid, hot-blooded, impassioned, passional, passionate, vehement, dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, overemotional, overheated, perfervid, blazing, burning, fiery, flaming, glowing, red-hot, ardent, enthusiastic, gung ho, warm-blooded, zealous, gushing, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, sentimental, compassionate, responsive, sympathetic, reactive, sensitive

Related Entry: Set (something) straight (phrase)

Set (something) straight is a different word from Straight. The synonyms below are for set (something) straight, not for straight.

  1. to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff

    "You need to set your room straight before you go."

    similar: clean (up), pick up, tidy (up), clean house
    related: houseclean, housekeep, clean (off), clean (up), neaten, police (up), straighten (up), turn out, unclutter, arrange, order
    near: clutter, disarrange, mess (up)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Straight

The most common words with a similar meaning to Straight:

direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward, all right, decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, nice, right-minded, righteous, true, upright, virtuous, absolute, fine, neat, plain, pure, purified, refined, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed, candid, forthcoming, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, freehearted, open, openhearted, out-front

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Straight

Words with the opposite meaning of Straight:

bad, dishonest, dishonorable, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent, sinful, unethical, unrighteous, wicked, wrong, adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed, dissembling, uncandid, unforthcoming, circuitous, indirect, roundabout, blasted, blind, blitzed, blotto, bombed, boozy, canned

Related Words for Straight

unbent, uncurled, untwisted, undeviating, unswerving, correct, decorous, proper, seemly, high-minded, noble, principled, commendable, creditable, exemplary, legitimate, esteemed, law-abiding, menschy, reputable, respected, upstanding, worthy, blameless, clean, guiltless, immaculate, incorrupt, incorruptible, innocent

Near Antonyms of Straight

bowed, rounded, entwined, kinked, swirled, turned, turning, twined, twining, twisted, twisting, veering, warped, bending, coiled, coiling, corkscrew, curled, curling, curved, curving, looping, spiral, spiraling, wavy, winding, meandering, weaving, devious, serpentine

Word Forms of Straight

Inflections: straighted, straighting, straights

Derived words: straightish (adjective), straightly (adverb), straightness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Straight

Middle English streght, straight, from past participle of strecchen to stretch stretch

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Straight

Words & Phrases Containing Straight

straight-ahead, straight and narrow, straight angle, straight-arm, straight arrow, straight chain

Frequently Asked Questions about Straight

What does "Straight" mean?

"Straight" means free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities. As an an adjective, an adverb, a verb and a noun, it is defined as: free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Straight"?

Other words for "Straight" include direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward, all right, decent and ethical. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Straight" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Straight"?

There are 207 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Straight". Common alternatives include direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward, all right, decent, ethical, good and honest.

What is the opposite of "Straight"?

Antonyms of "Straight" include bad, dishonest, dishonorable, evil, evil-minded, immoral, indecent and sinful. Near antonyms include bowed, rounded, entwined and kinked.

How do you use "Straight" in a sentence?

Examples of "Straight" in a sentence: "in the wide, open spaces of the West some rural roads are incredibly straight"; "a store owner known and trusted for his straight dealings"; "would you like that whiskey straight or with soda?".

Is "Straight" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Straight" can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Straight" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Straight" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Straight"?

"Straight" is pronounced /ˈstrāt/.