put down

put down

transitive verb

Definition of PUT DOWN

1

: to bring to an end : stop <put down a riot>

2

a : depose, degrade

b : disparage, belittle <mentioned his poetry only to put it down>

c : disapprove, criticize <was put down for the way she dressed>

d : humiliate, squelch <put him down with a sharp retort>

3

: to make ineffective : check <put down the gossip>

4

: to do away with (as an injured, sick, or aged animal) : destroy

5

a : to put in writing <put it down truthfully>

b : to enter in a list <put me down for a donation>

6

a : to place in a category <I put him down as a hypochondriac — O. S. J. Gogarty>

b : attribute <put it down to inexperience>

7

: to pack or preserve for future use

8

: consume <putting down helping after helping — Carson McCullers>

— put down roots

: to establish a permanent residence

Examples of PUT DOWN

1. <he has the annoying habit of putting down others under the guise of offering constructive criticism>
2. <we had the whole agreement put down on paper>

First Known Use of PUT DOWN

14th century

Related to PUT DOWN

Synonyms

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (also diss) [slang], discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, decry, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write off

Antonyms

acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise

Related Words

discommend; abuse, scold; disapprove (of), dislike; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate; asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify; discredit, disgrace

Near Antonyms

approve, countenance, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, sanction; commend, compliment, eulogize