smackdown

noun smack·down \ ˈsmak-ˌdau̇n \

Definition of smackdown

1 :the act of knocking down or bringing down an opponent

2 :a contest in entertainment wrestling

3 :a decisive defeat

4 :a confrontation between rivals or competitors

Recent Examples of smackdown from the Web

But perhaps the most epic White House feud was the smackdown between Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump’s hardball tactics backfire as ‘skinny repeal’ goes down," 28 July 2017
Alabama's dominating 54-16 smackdown of Florida in last year's SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome showcased the growing chasm between Alabama and everybody else.

— josh bean, AL.com, "AL.com All-Access: Is Alabama really the runaway favorite in the SEC?," 18 July 2017
Clearly, even uncontroversial experts on intelligence have not converged on the smackdown kind of consensus on race and IQ that experts on, say, climate change largely have.

— john mcwhorter, National Review, "Stop Obsessing Over Race and IQ," 5 July 2017
A spinning of the lip-sync smackdown wheel lead to two teams: Trinity Taylor would take on Peppermint; and Shea would face her friend and collaborator Sasha Velour.

— morgan greene, chicagotribune.com, "Shea Coulee does not slay 'RuPaul's Drag Race' finale," 23 June 2017
Both, though, hope to deliver one epic final smackdown to polio, a disease once feared in much of the world that has now been nearly eradicated.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Bill Gates and John Cena to address more than 40,000 Rotary members in Atlanta," 9 June 2017
But there’s much, much more going on here than a Godzilla vs. Optimus Prime smackdown.

— colin covert, idahostatesman, "‘Colossal’ an amazing film," 28 Apr. 2017
On just his twenty-first day in office, three very senior federal judges, one of them a Republican appointee, issued a stunning smackdown of his divisive and dangerous approach to governing.

— john cassidy, The New Yorker, "An Encouraging First Victory Over Trumpery," 10 Feb. 2017
Then again, the N.F.L. already staged its own smackdown between Goodell and Robert Kraft, the Patriots’ owner, whose mild-mannered demeanor went out the window a week before the Super Bowl last year.

— ken belson, New York Times, "Deflategate Is Over: Tom Brady Ends Appeals Process," 15 July 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smackdown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of smackdown

1997

Other Combat Sports Terms

foil, riposte, welter

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smackdown

Definition of smackdown

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First Known Use of smackdown

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smackdown

Definition of smackdown

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