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
The next day the family was called down to the station to pick up Skip.
—
Janine Rubenstein, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Battling In The Skies The interceptors stand between Ukrainian forces and Russian drones, including reconnaissance drones which call down artillery and rocket fire and attack drones.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Battling In The Skies The interceptors stand between Ukrainian forces and Russian drones, including reconnaissance drones which call down artillery and rocket fire and attack drones.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
But Robbins' life was soon upended when he got called down to the principal’s office at Harriton High School and accused of selling drugs.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Four security guards were called down, and the employee ultimately left.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Trail Cams Go To War Trail Cams could be used like the sensors in Igloo White, to call down attacks on logistics vehicles by FPV drones.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
But Robbins' life was soon upended when he got called down to the principal’s office at Harriton High School and accused of selling drugs.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Four security guards were called down, and the employee ultimately left.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Janine Rubenstein, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Battling In The Skies The interceptors stand between Ukrainian forces and Russian drones, including reconnaissance drones which call down artillery and rocket fire and attack drones.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Battling In The Skies The interceptors stand between Ukrainian forces and Russian drones, including reconnaissance drones which call down artillery and rocket fire and attack drones.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
But Robbins' life was soon upended when he got called down to the principal’s office at Harriton High School and accused of selling drugs.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Four security guards were called down, and the employee ultimately left.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Trail Cams Go To War Trail Cams could be used like the sensors in Igloo White, to call down attacks on logistics vehicles by FPV drones.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
But Robbins' life was soon upended when he got called down to the principal’s office at Harriton High School and accused of selling drugs.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
Four security guards were called down, and the employee ultimately left.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call down
Verb
-
Today's top stories President Trump scolded Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday after Russia launched a deadly strike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
-
That, in the end, is the heart of the spectacle of Noem’s militaristic videos and Leavitt’s scolding and lies.—
Constance Grady,
Vox,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Conor Heffernan, who lectures on the history of sports and fitness at Ulster University, in Ireland, said the current vogue for biohacking, and its protein boosterism, reeks of snake oil.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Her quotidian life was lecturing at a college in Aberdeen, close to where she was born, and the travel and mountaineering a teacher’s schedule enables.—
Sadie Stein,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Rourke was formally reprimanded by the show and ultimately booted from the house.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
23 Apr. 2025
-
And when no one was fired or even reprimanded for the FUBAR, the accountability Hegseth promised had seemingly gone AWOL.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Californians can blame the commissioner’s good intentions.—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Duffy should listen to the lawyers, but instead the Trump Department of Justice has transferred the handling of the congestion price litigation from New York lawyers to some in D.C., blaming the SDNY for intentionally sabotaging the case in filing the letter where it could be seen by all.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
She was criticized by some for her expensive timepiece and for using prisoners as production props.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Carey criticized laissez-faire economics for degrading the British working class.—
Made by History,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Now, dazzling sequins are typically reserved for cocktail or black tie, but the actor's rugged pants—which debuted on the spring 2025 runway back in September—proved that shimmering embellishments can in fact be dressed down.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Its pleated fabric and modest silhouette give it an elevated look, though it can still be dressed down for daytime wear.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20down. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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