right 1 of 4

noun

Definition of rightnext
1
as in privilege
something to which one has a just claim everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

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2
as in claim
an entitlement to something what right do you have to tell us what to do?

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3
as in justice
the practice of giving to others what is their due activists who have fought all their lives for right

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right

2 of 4

adjective

ˈrīt How to pronounce right (audio)
1
as in true
following an original exactly a modern replica of an 18th-century British warship that is right in all of its details

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2
as in real
being exactly as appears or as claimed despite the name, New York's East River is a strait and not a right river

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3
as in correct
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard the obvious answer is not always the right one

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4
as in deserved
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong trying to do what is right

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5
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue a right woman who did not hang around waterfront bars

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6
as in linear
free from irregularities or digressions in course the first city in America laid out with broad, right avenues

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7
as in normal
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions he hasn't been right since he suffered serious brain injury in the accident

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8
as in appropriate
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation the right tool for the job

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right

3 of 4

adverb

1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference stay right where you are

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2
as in straight
in a direct line or course walk right over here now

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3
as in very
to a great degree a right beautiful day we're having!

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4
as in immediately
without delay we'll leave right after dinner

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5
as in correctly
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose you're not dressed right for an interview with a big-time law firm

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right

4 of 4

verb

as in to better

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word right different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of right are accurate, correct, exact, nice, and precise. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

In what contexts can accurate take the place of right?

While in some cases nearly identical to right, accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

When is it sensible to use correct instead of right?

The synonyms correct and right are sometimes interchangeable, but correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

When might exact be a better fit than right?

In some situations, the words exact and right are roughly equivalent. However, exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

When could nice be used to replace right?

While the synonyms nice and right are close in meaning, nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

How are the words precise and exact related as synonyms of right?

Precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of right
Noun
The ongoing spat with the US has resonated with swing voters who lean right and embrace nationalist ideals. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026 Just before Mission Road, the truck exited the roadway to the right. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The house holds the dangerous secrets of its inhabitants and is as much a character, so when the project was greenlit, finding the ideal dwelling was key to creating the right mysterious-yet-sexy atmosphere the narrative required. — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026 Willis, a 6-1, 230-pound junior from Newark, New Jersey, suffered an apparent right-foot injury in the second quarter of the Arizona State game. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
Adverb
The Boise State offense was right back on the field, and Zabransky immediately connected with tight end Derek Schouman for a 36-yard pass into Oklahoma territory. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 3 Oct. 2026 Horowitz has described getting the product right and then aligning it with the right brand voice and customer experience, making the store one piece of a larger transformation. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
Just in time for Labor Day, the National Labor Relations Board can finally right some of the wrongs of the Biden administration. — Marvin E. Kaplan, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2026 Laney-Hamilton helped right the Liberty ship in 2021 after a career-defining 2020 with the Atlanta Dream. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for right
Recent Examples of Synonyms for right
  1. privilege
  2. claim
  3. justice
  4. true
  5. real
  6. correct
  7. deserved
  8. honorable
Noun
  • Don’t Give Agents Their Own Set Of Rules Most companies already have policies governing production access, sensitive data, financial systems, administrative privileges and other consequential actions.
    — Shashwat Sehgal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Even so, money and privilege cannot guarantee that these elites will stay loyal.
    — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of privilege
Noun
  • The lawsuit said Bakker and a guest made the cure claim during 11 episodes in February and March 2020.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Some defendants face additional allegations involving false claims of citizenship or fraudulent statements that rest on separate federal statutes.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of claim
Noun
  • The Financial Action Task Force, the global money-laundering watchdog, has warned that criminals exploit citizenship and residency programs to conceal their identities, launder illicit wealth and evade justice.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The next president is expected to nominate four of 11 Supreme Court justices, giving the winner a significant influence over the court for years to come.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of justice
Adjective
  • The court has already said that second half is Congress’ job, and the usual objection — that nobody could tell the difference — is about to stop being true.
    — John Mildenberger, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But back then, Carla was worth significantly more than Morgan; now, the inverse is true.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Non-traditional cuts of steaks are the order of the day at Alvear Grill, while L'Orangerie y el Jardin d'Hiver serves a breakfast buffet that's a real treat, and afternoon tea with white-gloved waiters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Those changes represented real progress, Davis said, but the industry largely failed to question the commercial system into which those materials were being introduced.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • Indeed, people who treat AGI seriously have been much more correct about the speed of AI advances than people who dismiss the concept.
    — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The first four-lens telescopes appeared around 1643, but if Madrid’s analysis is correct, this would mean the innovation occurred much earlier, in 1630 at the latest, and could be attributed to Galileo.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of correct
Adjective
  • Amid ongoing disputes that have rattled a city office at the center of complaints for months, a grievance is pending in which a worker claims unfair treatment, discrimination and that he was denied a deserved promotion.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Maresca’s players followed soon after; Iliman Ndiaye, an inspired half-time substitute, was hanging around at the back of the group when Ruben Dias grabbed him and thrust him to the front, ensuring the new signing got a deserved ovation.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of deserved
Adjective
  • Too bad that New York’s LG Delgado didn’t take the same honorable path and walk away.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • While some might argue that Murphy is an antihero, Hawke viewed him as an honorable man.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of honorable

Phrases Containing right

Browse Nearby Words

rigging (up)
right
right and left
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Cite this Entry

“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/right. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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