slap down

verb

slapped down; slapping down; slaps down

transitive verb

1

: to prohibit or restrain usually abruptly and with censure from acting in a specified way : squelch

2

: to put an abrupt stop to : suppress

Synonyms

• quell
• suppress
• subdue
• crack down (on)
• sit on
• put down

Examples of slap down in a Sentence

public protests against the dictatorial government were always promptly slapped down

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, the 5th Circuit twice slapped down orders by Pittman to transfer to Washington, D.C., a lawsuit by trade groups representing large banks challenging a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which capped credit card late fees at $8 per month. —Dan Mangan,josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025

The production runs for 2026 and 2027 are sold out, but future flyers can jump in the queue for the 2028 build now by slapping down a deposit of US$8,000. —New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025

And that’s the big ol’ marker general manager Adam Peters has slapped down on the table, a year-plus into his stint here. —David Aldridge, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

But his vague inferences have been easily slapped down with clear details about prices not being met and no promises being made. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for slap down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown