as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dress down
Her aesthetic showcases the luxe sheets act as a chameleon to be dressed down in a kid's space or elevated in a primary bedroom.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025
Or try the Luna Stretch Flare Jeans, $50 at Quince, for a pair of versatile jeans that can be dressed down or up.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite those formal touches, they can be dressed down just as easily when worn with sandals and a cropped tank top.
—Clint Davis, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Striking that right balance between dressy and dressed down is certainly an art—but luckily there’s a handful of celebrities who’ve recently nailed the look.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress down
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025
Or try the Luna Stretch Flare Jeans, $50 at Quince, for a pair of versatile jeans that can be dressed down or up.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite those formal touches, they can be dressed down just as easily when worn with sandals and a cropped tank top.
—Clint Davis, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Striking that right balance between dressy and dressed down is certainly an art—but luckily there’s a handful of celebrities who’ve recently nailed the look.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress down
Verb
-
Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
-
After the kid was saved, Beltran scolded the resident, reminding her not to bring her personal life into the ER — or her attending’s.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Quilting group hosts lecture, workshop El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. April 8 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
-
But the club’s members didn’t lecture or advocate until 20 years after its 1876 founding.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Mickey Rourke was reprimanded on Celebrity Big Brother UK after using a homophobic slur toward fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The mom comes back and then reprimanded me for not supporting her baby’s head.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Battling In The Skies The interceptors stand between Ukrainian forces and Russian drones, including reconnaissance drones which call down artillery and rocket fire and attack drones.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Battling In The Skies The interceptors stand between Ukrainian forces and Russian drones, including reconnaissance drones which call down artillery and rocket fire and attack drones.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
They are blamed for a mysterious illness that’s starting to spread – said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Trump's tariffs were partly to blame for price increases that had taken place in February.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But to chew out his boss--Edwin Stanton, secretary of war--would be more than just getting close to the line of insubordination.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Judge is chewing out the parties.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
On Wednesday, Trump announced sweeping tariffs that have been mostly criticized by agricultural and food groups for their potential to shrink markets for farmers and raise consumer prices.—
Tom Polansek and Leah Douglas,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The judge also criticized the Corps for failing to quantify how climate change will impact precipitation and, therefore, how that change could impact the need for more water storage.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20down. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share