1
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
new hires always have to deal with put-downs and practical jokes from the older employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criticism
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant
your never-ending put-down of my musical talents is really starting to annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
he has the annoying habit of putting down others under the guise of offering constructive criticism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to record
to make a written note of
we had the whole agreement put down on paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to enter
to put (someone or something) on a list
put her down as one of the chaperones for the field trip
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
a tyrant who ruthlessly put down uprisings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to attribute
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
a fender bender that probably can be put down to the young driver's inexperience
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6
as in to eat
to take in as food
the husky youngster seemed to put down her own weight in food at one sitting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put-down
Armond White, National Review, 1 Jan. 2025
This sneering put-down is even more bizarre than the swipe at Carter’s phantom operatic output.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Andrew Keatts, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
Beyond Waverly Place picks up more then a decade later, with Justin (Henrie) now raising a mortal family on Staten Island after putting down his wand for good.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
Caustic put-downs of Milton Berle, Jim Henson, and Johnny Carson anticipate the partisan snark by which SNL would pillory Millennial conservatives as non-hip — the antiquated value that has bankrupt stand-up comedy today.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Jan. 2025
This sneering put-down is even more bizarre than the swipe at Carter’s phantom operatic output.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
The typical San Diego homebuyer put down $61,000 14 years ago, compared to the $169,000 needed late last year.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
Beyond Waverly Place picks up more then a decade later, with Justin (Henrie) now raising a mortal family on Staten Island after putting down his wand for good.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
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In a workplace that’s increasingly remote, fast-paced, independent and ever-changing, these aren’t insults.—
Nirit Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Recent White House comments and insults directed at NATO allies – as well as the military alliance itself – have raised alarm and confusion.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The emotional stories linked with characters portrayed as cold-blooded killers trained by terrorists have left the film amid wide criticism over its intentions.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Many of the artists now topping the charts have come under fierce criticism because their lyrics often paint cartel leaders as Robin Hood-esque figures.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The company filed two motions to dismiss the case, one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Trump administration is investigating government lawyers who prosecuted Jan. 6 rioters — and will do the same for prosecutors who refused to dismiss corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams of New York.—
Michael S. Schmidt,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The administration expects the new rates to remain in place until the U.S. narrows a $1.2 trillion trade imbalance recorded last year.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
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Even worse, the duo recorded zero interceptions and just one turnover between them — a Holland forced fumble in Week 1.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Miami entered Wednesday with a 5-9 record this season when all three players have been available since Wiggins was acquired from the Golden State Warriors in the Feb. 6 Jimmy Butler trade.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2025
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With the arrival of Bizzarri and Maggio, the brand entered the American market, with a first U.S. boutique in the Bal Harbour Shops in Miami opening in December.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rubio sought to quell anxieties among his European counterparts as Trump’s tariffs take effect, the president mulls withdrawing from NATO altogether and U.S. support for Ukraine hangs in the balance.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
4 Apr. 2025
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Anti-Diversity Policies: The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe after several American Embassies sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs.—
Victoria Kim,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Part of Tesla’s dive can be attributed as much to an aging model line (a refreshed version of the top-selling Model Y is finally being released) as Musk’s own controversial persona.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Here’s what happened: Traders appeared to be reacting to a post on X that said Trump was open to a 90-day pause on the tariffs, attributed to Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council.—
Andrew Ross Sorkin,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Miami was last in the NFL at 57 plays per game last season partly because the offense didn’t convert effectively on third downs, but also because the porous run defense allowed opponents to eat up the clock.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun-Sentinel.com,
19 July 2017
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The casual restaurant and bar also offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. Sundays.—
Vickie Snow Jurkowski,
Daily Southtown,
19 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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