as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
I was called down by my supervisor for not catching the accounting error sooner
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Recent Examples of call down
After leaving the field at the end of the third, Fried walked into the tunnel leading to the visitors’ clubhouse, flanked by pitching coach Matt Blake, who immediately called down to the bullpen to have Paul Blackburn warm up.
—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Even the New York State Police had been called down to join, and were standing around in their purple ties and Dudley Do-Right hats.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
At another point, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman called down to Earth to NASA’s IT specialists on the ground to report that both versions of Microsoft’s email program Outlook installed on his computer were not working.
—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Ming opened up her fourth floor window and called down to the firefighters below.
—
Kate Talerico,
San Francisco Chronicle,
19 Jan. 2026
Derpetrossian was working with a hot shot crew with the Angeles National Forest when he got called down to help fight fires that were popping up around Los Angeles while the Palisades Fire wreaked havoc on the city’s Westside.
—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
17 Jan. 2026
Scott said, when he was called down to the lobby, James threatened his family.
—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
On July 14th, Etoria was called down to intake with a group of men of diverse nationalities.
—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
They are insulated with feathers from ducks or geese called down.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Even the New York State Police had been called down to join, and were standing around in their purple ties and Dudley Do-Right hats.
—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
At another point, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman called down to Earth to NASA’s IT specialists on the ground to report that both versions of Microsoft’s email program Outlook installed on his computer were not working.
—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Ming opened up her fourth floor window and called down to the firefighters below.
—
Kate Talerico,
San Francisco Chronicle,
19 Jan. 2026
Derpetrossian was working with a hot shot crew with the Angeles National Forest when he got called down to help fight fires that were popping up around Los Angeles while the Palisades Fire wreaked havoc on the city’s Westside.
—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
17 Jan. 2026
Scott said, when he was called down to the lobby, James threatened his family.
—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
On July 14th, Etoria was called down to intake with a group of men of diverse nationalities.
—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
They are insulated with feathers from ducks or geese called down.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call down
Verb
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This ancient poem isn’t interested in scolding women for their sexuality, but in the establishment of honor in the elite household.
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Davis remembered once being scolded as a teenager by her mother after being caught speaking poorly of a classmate.
Verb
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Some commentators in the United States have taken the opportunity to lecture Europeans, and perhaps even indulge in a little schadenfreude.
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The work, then, is not to lecture communities into trusting us.
Verb
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One notable instance came in season 1 of America's Sweethearts, when Powell was reprimanded for asking where her ornament was on the locker room Christmas tree, as opposed to expressing gratitude for the decorations.
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Later on during the trial, the judge reprimanded Pino and his supporters for hugging and physical embracing him while court was in session and the jury was present.
Verb
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Before the earthquakes, the government generally defended its national health system as robust, blaming shortcomings on sanctions imposed by the United States.
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This ruling compels companies to confront systemic biases embedded in their hiring data, rather than solely blaming technology.
Verb
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The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
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While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
Cite this Entry
“Call down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20down. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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