as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
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Recent Examples of dressed down
Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
With its refined silhouette, subtle logo detailing, and classic colors—from black to a fall-ready burgundy—the elegant accessory can be dressed down for coffee runs and classed up for date nights.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
Even now, as a bonafide fashion success, with the Victoria Beckham label undergoing four years of consistent growth resulting in over £100 million in annual sales, she’s mostly dressed down in quiet luxury hoodies in the documentary.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Mellencamp, 44, sported a loose-fitting jumpsuit, Prada crossbody bag and a black baseball cap, while Rea, who was holding a tablet in his hand, dressed down in athletic shorts and a white T-shirt.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
These timeless styles look polished, but can easily be dressed down with a tee and sneakers.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
With its refined silhouette, subtle logo detailing, and classic colors—from black to a fall-ready burgundy—the elegant accessory can be dressed down for coffee runs and classed up for date nights.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
Even now, as a bonafide fashion success, with the Victoria Beckham label undergoing four years of consistent growth resulting in over £100 million in annual sales, she’s mostly dressed down in quiet luxury hoodies in the documentary.
—Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Mellencamp, 44, sported a loose-fitting jumpsuit, Prada crossbody bag and a black baseball cap, while Rea, who was holding a tablet in his hand, dressed down in athletic shorts and a white T-shirt.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressed down
Verb
-
Rachel Dratch scolded Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz for laughing while rehearsing the original Debbie Downer sketch on Saturday Night Live.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
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There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The venue’s intimacy, coupled with a more informal, speakeasy vibe, permeated an award ceremony that was notable for its moments of laughter and easy congeniality.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The Covid-19 pandemic meant that the research was slow to get off the ground and, more crucially, informal conversations Adamala had with colleagues in other fields, at conferences and other forums, began to sow alarm.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Augusta was a devout Christian who often lectured the Bible to her sons and blamed alcohol and women for the evils of the world, per the outlet.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Clarke and his business partner sold photographs and films, wrote and lectured about their adventures, and began treasure hunting.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
So many of McAnally’s song ideas have been mined from his knack for finding stories in everyday life.—
Nancy Kruh,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Buffett’s moves highlight a preference for sectors tied to everyday consumption and long-term goals, such as housing, energy, and consumables.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Turnage was not disciplined or reprimanded in connection with the investigation, according to the lawsuit.—
Miami Herald,
Boston Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The president of the statewide North Carolina education system publicly reprimanded UNC’s Board of Trustees for their meddling weeks after Belichick’s hiring, and temporarily stripped the board of some authority.—
The Athletic Colleges staff,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The resilience of the fast casual food category also comes from its relatively smaller exposure to the lower income consumers that have been under more pressure in the current macroeconomic environment, Cho noted.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
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The Santa Fe Opera offers a unique experience by combining traditional opera with casual parking lot tailgating.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
They are insulated with feathers from ducks or geese called down.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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And Josh still viscerally remembers a moment in grade school when he was called down to the office and accused of punching another student, mistaken for the other Josh Jones in his school.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In August, a gunman who blamed COVID vaccines for his depression opened fire on the agency’s Atlanta campus, killing a police officer.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
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The woman long blamed for her role in the fall of the Aztec empire in 1521 is getting a modern makeover.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dressed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressed%20down. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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