: an act or instance of putting down
especially
: a humiliating remark
put down; putting down; puts down
1
: to bring to an end : stop
put down a riot
2
3
: to make ineffective : check
put down the gossip
4
: to do away with (an injured, sick, or aged animal) : destroy
5
a
: to put in writing
b
: to enter in a list
6
a
: to place in a category
I put him down as a hypochondriac—
O. S. J. Gogarty
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
Carson McCullers
Synonyms
Examples of put-down in a Sentence
Verb
he has the annoying habit of putting down others under the guise of offering constructive criticism
we had the whole agreement put down on paper
Recent Examples on the WebArmond White, National Review, 17 Nov. 2023
Jo, who also briefly worked with the same team, confirmed that the general atmosphere was one of put-downs and bullying.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Nov. 2023
The lyrics are crafted with precision, and each bar has the potential to caption Instagram posts from selfies to put-downs.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2023
That may be the most common put-down of the White House dreamers who are languishing in the pre-primary polls.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 11 Sep. 2023
But on Tuesday, the professor intercepted his student’s request and ran it back for a put-down.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
In a group chat, a toxic friend may make fun of a mutual acquaintance and egg on others to join in with the put-downs.
—Women's Health, 10 May 2023
Such offers of advice, however, no matter how well-meaning (in other words, focused on connection), are often heard as criticism—and therefore as put-downs.
—Deborah Tannen, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2016
As Little Red helps herself to a trove of sugary treats, skips across the stage with her basket of baked goods, and tangles with a flamboyantly sinister Wolf (Creel), Geraghty delivers deadpan witticisms, eye-rolling put-downs, and arch comebacks.
—Christopher Wallenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2023
Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2023
Chefs and restaurant workers are taking notice and electing to work, turning out menus that make the prospect of putting down the baking mitts and making a reservation even more appealing.
—Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2023
After 22 years of working as a hairdresser in America, Lewis put down her shears and now teaches English at two schools in Senegal.
—Chika Oduah, Essence, 16 Nov. 2023
Musk said last month that over 1 million customers put down deposits for the vehicle.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023
Vehicles are also a major component of the toxic stew, while dust from building sites also contributes — for much of the past year, Mumbai, on the west coast, has suffered even worse air pollution than Delhi, which many have put down to Mumbai’s recent mania for construction.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
Writing a book is often an exercise in putting down what needs to be said in order to liberate oneself to do something else.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2023
Bobi was born in a litter of four puppies; the three others were put down by owner Leonel Costa's parents because the farm already had too many animals.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2023
In 1971, House lawmakers didn’t install a new speaker to take over for retiring Speaker Rep. John McCormack, a Democrat from Massachusetts who put down the gavel on Jan. 3, until three weeks later.
—Katy Stech Ferek, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2023
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Noun
The Smiths were never embraced by American tastemakers (reviewers resorted to snide put-downs), so the band developed a silent-majority coterie — a Make Music Great Again following.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 Nov. 2023
Jo, who also briefly worked with the same team, confirmed that the general atmosphere was one of put-downs and bullying.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Nov. 2023
The lyrics are crafted with precision, and each bar has the potential to caption Instagram posts from selfies to put-downs.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2023
That may be the most common put-down of the White House dreamers who are languishing in the pre-primary polls.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 11 Sep. 2023
But on Tuesday, the professor intercepted his student’s request and ran it back for a put-down.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
In a group chat, a toxic friend may make fun of a mutual acquaintance and egg on others to join in with the put-downs.
—Women's Health, 10 May 2023
Such offers of advice, however, no matter how well-meaning (in other words, focused on connection), are often heard as criticism—and therefore as put-downs.
—Deborah Tannen, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2016
As Little Red helps herself to a trove of sugary treats, skips across the stage with her basket of baked goods, and tangles with a flamboyantly sinister Wolf (Creel), Geraghty delivers deadpan witticisms, eye-rolling put-downs, and arch comebacks.
—Christopher Wallenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2023
Verb
The same gun models were used by private security forces, federal and state troops, and police departments to put down labor strikes; in 1892, the Pennsylvania National Guard used Gatling guns to end a strike at the Carnegie Steel Company.
—Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2023
Chefs and restaurant workers are taking notice and electing to work, turning out menus that make the prospect of putting down the baking mitts and making a reservation even more appealing.
—Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 20 Nov. 2023
After 22 years of working as a hairdresser in America, Lewis put down her shears and now teaches English at two schools in Senegal.
—Chika Oduah, Essence, 16 Nov. 2023
Musk said last month that over 1 million customers put down deposits for the vehicle.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023
Vehicles are also a major component of the toxic stew, while dust from building sites also contributes — for much of the past year, Mumbai, on the west coast, has suffered even worse air pollution than Delhi, which many have put down to Mumbai’s recent mania for construction.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
Writing a book is often an exercise in putting down what needs to be said in order to liberate oneself to do something else.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2023
Bobi was born in a litter of four puppies; the three others were put down by owner Leonel Costa's parents because the farm already had too many animals.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2023
In 1971, House lawmakers didn’t install a new speaker to take over for retiring Speaker Rep. John McCormack, a Democrat from Massachusetts who put down the gavel on Jan. 3, until three weeks later.
—Katy Stech Ferek, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'put-down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near put-down
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put-down. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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