CALLING DOWN Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

calling down

verb

present participle of call down

as in scolding

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of calling down This year, the irrigators began calling down water on July 1, boosting flows in the Colorado River. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling down

Verb

Eventually, all charges were dropped days before trial, with Perry scolding prosecutors for violating the inherent trust placed in the office.

— Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.

— JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolding

Verb

The bald guy lecturing me on how to get the money looked real enough, but the question of his true being kept rattling around my increasingly paranoid mind.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
Especially for him in the same interview to be lecturing my party on democracy and norms.

— NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of lecturing

Verb

And there’s a useful distinction between dressing down to make someone else comfortable and being thoughtful about the signals your clothes send.

— Morgan Sullivan, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
Like Bezos, whose Sun Valley uniform has included jeans with T-shirts and polo shirts, many of the male tech executives are dressing down.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 July 2026

Definition of dressing down

Verb

During the debate, both candidates seemed prepared to focus on the lack of affordability — namely by blaming the other’s political party for it.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
The Variable To Watch This is, admittedly, a less exciting explanation than blaming the market.

— Khalifa Aldhaheri, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaming

Verb

On Friday, the pope strongly reiterated the Church's pro-life teachings, criticizing initiatives to allow assisted dying for those who have incurable illnesses.

— Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
The exchange sparked a range of reactions in the comments, with some viewers criticizing Langley’s response.

— Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of criticizing

Browse Nearby Words

calling

calling down

calling (for)

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“Calling down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20down. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of calling down

verb

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