as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dressed down
Tory Johnson, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
The Burlesque star dressed down her jewels in a effortlessly cool black sweat set.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
This off-the-shoulder dress is a solid in-between option, since it can be dressed up with wedges or dressed down with flat sandals.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
If someone is dressed up in a space that is dressed down, for instance, there’s humor to it.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
The handy bag goes with just about any outfit and can be dressed down for dog walks or dressed up for dinner out on the town.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
While Haim dressed down her look with a low-key ponytail and barely-there makeup, Swift stuck to her usual glam with cat-eye liner and signature red lip.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
The shoe comes in two colors, each of which look great dressed up or dressed down, and will only get better with each wear.
—Will Porter, Outside, 9 Dec. 2025
Even dressed down in a minimalist white button-down blouse, vintage Levi’s and pearl earrings, Scherzinger exudes the kind of glamour visible from outer space.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
These beautiful styles will take you from day to night, dressed up or dressed down.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
The Burlesque star dressed down her jewels in a effortlessly cool black sweat set.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
This off-the-shoulder dress is a solid in-between option, since it can be dressed up with wedges or dressed down with flat sandals.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
If someone is dressed up in a space that is dressed down, for instance, there’s humor to it.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
The handy bag goes with just about any outfit and can be dressed down for dog walks or dressed up for dinner out on the town.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
While Haim dressed down her look with a low-key ponytail and barely-there makeup, Swift stuck to her usual glam with cat-eye liner and signature red lip.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
The shoe comes in two colors, each of which look great dressed up or dressed down, and will only get better with each wear.
—Will Porter, Outside, 9 Dec. 2025
Even dressed down in a minimalist white button-down blouse, vintage Levi’s and pearl earrings, Scherzinger exudes the kind of glamour visible from outer space.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressed down
Adjective
-
The emerging cooperation has opened the door for American companies to explore opportunities in Venezuela’s mineral-rich south, even as governance on the ground remains dominated by armed groups and informal networks.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Residents have cleared public rainforest, creating informal plots and erecting makeshift homes.—
Gabriela Sá Pessoa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the second player protested the contact, Nicholson scolded the player, according to one parent.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Other times, Rodriguez encouraged her to sleep or scolded the Sacramento mother when stress led to too many cigarettes.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Choptima is a sleek, high-quality series of chopping boards designed in Denmark for everyday kitchen use.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
That means researchers and everyday birdwatchers are finding species faster than new ones are disappearing from the record.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tyson Eckert, the fourteen-year-old, lectured about character, competence, confidence, capability, credibility, competitiveness, and courage.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Joanna Fabicon, who has lectured on contemporary children’s literature at UCLA, added that educators, librarians and publishers must all grapple with the allegations against Chávez and decide how to move forward.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jamie’s blends retail with a casual bistro atmosphere.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
For attorneys in an overcrowded marketplace, in a city with casual ethics and a weakness for flamboyance, an outlandish sales pitch can be the best way to break through.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the University of Connecticut is to retain any respect, Coach Auriemma should be publicly reprimanded and suspended without pay.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The lawsuit alleges that district officials later accused Cormier of violating confidentiality rules by providing law enforcement with documents and reprimanded her.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
State Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch blamed senate Republicans for failing to pass higher raises for teachers.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ackman blamed its poor share price performance partly on the delay of UMG’s listing in the United States.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dressed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressed%20down. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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