as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dress down
Faustino was dressed down in a black T-shirt and camouflage shorts for the outing.
—
Raven Brunner, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
They can be dressed up with a blazer, paired with a cute pair of jeans and a top or dressed down in workout gear.
—Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
And Germany is in line for a particularly harsh dressing down.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
Faustino was dressed down in a black T-shirt and camouflage shorts for the outing.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress down
Raven Brunner, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
They can be dressed up with a blazer, paired with a cute pair of jeans and a top or dressed down in workout gear.
—Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
And Germany is in line for a particularly harsh dressing down.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
Faustino was dressed down in a black T-shirt and camouflage shorts for the outing.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dress down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dress down
Verb
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After performing spirited pieces from the Prime Video superhero drama at Deadline’s Sound & Screen: Television event, composers Christopher Lennertz and Matt Bowen were asked if they’ve ever been scolded for going too far with their music.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
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Similar circumstances were noted at most airports across the country, with media reporting that those without a Real ID have faced little more than a scolding from TSA agents or a reminder to book an appointment soon to get a Star Card.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2025
Verb
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In an extraordinary break between the two allies, Trump lectured Zelensky on his weak position in negotiations and in the war.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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This resilience makes Zelensky’s bristling at being lectured by Vance on his nation’s sacrifice and peril easier to understand.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Doctor, who has clearly been keeping tabs on Earth, brings Conrad into the TARDIS to reprimand him for betraying Ruby and using people’s fears and insecurity for his own gain.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
3 May 2025
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The vote to reprimand Vaughn was 6-1, with Vaughn in opposition.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the game changer, a change in field practices that drove use of force on crisis calls down by 68% over a four-year period, was a different type of training — a mandatory one that Anderson helped craft.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
5 May 2025
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The next day the family was called down to the station to pick up Skip.—
Janine Rubenstein,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Nevertheless, Buck tells Chim that no one blames him for what happened.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
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In October, the gang was blamed for killing more than 70 people in Pont-Sondé, the biggest massacre in Haiti’s recent history.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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But to chew out his boss--Edwin Stanton, secretary of war--would be more than just getting close to the line of insubordination.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
12 Feb. 2025
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Judge is chewing out the parties.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Several Democratic members of Congress criticized her firing.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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The late pope criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching.—
Nicole Winfield,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dress down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dress%20down. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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