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
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Recent Examples of right
Noun
According to the police department’s release, the primary factor in the crash seemed to be Smith failing to yield the right of way to the pedestrian.—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 9 June 2025 Navot and Diab draw a distinction between having formal citizenship rights, which Palestinians in Israel have, and being a citizen.—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Adjective
Steven Meyer, of the nonprofit organization Urban Rivers, said a Shedd Aquarium employee caught the first conclusive pictures of the season, which show a notch in the back right portion of the reptile’s shell.—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025 The largest technological barrier today, Doudna said, is not with CRISPR itself, but with the delivery of the CRISPR enzymes into the right molecules and tissues in the patient – or animal or plant, depending on the application.—Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Adverb
For as much as Anderson’s films call for his actors to flatten their delivery, his first foray into stop-motion animation picked up the pace considerably, and Clooney zips right along with his character’s fast-talking schemes.—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025 Just so present, right in your face will just sit and look at you.—Rachel McRady, People.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
The South African government says its long-standing affirmative action laws are a cornerstone of its efforts to right the injustices of the white minority rule of apartheid, which denied opportunities to Black people and other racial groups.—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 May 25, 2025 Additional satellite imagery shared on Sunday by Decker Eveleth, a strategic forces analyst at the the Center for Naval Analyses, a Virginia think tank, appeared to show several balloons floating overhead as part of efforts to right the 5,000-ton vessel.—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for right
His passion for racing, commitment to his team, and love for the sport left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.
—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
Levi had enjoyed sofa privileges in Altadena, but those rights did not travel with him.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, which was a plaintiff in his suit, are able to amend some of the claims by June 23, the judge ruled.
—
June 9,
CBS News,
9 June 2025
The lawsuit’s claim that retaliation from the Trump administration could be imminent for schools that do not comply with the administration’s demands is not entirely speculative.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by FBI agents last week, charged with obstruction of justice and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest.
—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Student clubs for everything from social justice to dog walking can be found on college campuses.
This process involved creating component symbols with accurate pin mappings and identifying—or in some cases creating—the correct footprints for each proprietary component that Sony had never publicly documented.
—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2025
But, even if Netanyahu’s figures were correct, that would still be less than two hundred trucks per day—far below what humanitarian organizations have said that hungry Gazans need.
After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Quang enjoyed a successful pharmaceutical sales stint as a top producer for Astra/Merck and then Genentech.
—
Quang X. Pham,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Civil disobedience is honorable; violence is beyond the pale.
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