dressed down 1 of 2

adjective

as in informal

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dressed down

2 of 2

verb

past tense of dress down
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

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 dressed down
Verb
Photos published by The Sun showed the couple dressed down, with Meghan in a black sweater, dark pants, white sneakers and sunglasses. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026 Spungen’s book houses over 80 cookie recipes, all glitzed, glammed, or perfectly dressed down. — The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026 The polished cut of the NYDJ Teresa Trouser Jeans is a deal sealer—they can be dressed down with a hoodie for a fire-pit-friendly outfit, or just as easily styled for a casual but put-together dinner. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026 This versatile set can be dressed up with heels or dressed down with sneakers. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026 The versatile shirt can be dressed up for work with a skirt or slacks and dressed down on the weekends with lightweight pants or a denim jacket. — Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026 At a meeting that month in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, Overton dressed down HHS officials for not presenting a document that would pass legal review, according to a person who attended. — Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 These beautiful styles take you from day to night, dressed up or dressed down. — ABC News, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressed down
  1. informal
  2. scolded
  3. everyday
  4. lectured
  5. casual
  6. reprimanded
  7. called down
  8. blamed
Adjective
  • Youth unemployment stands at about 23% and a large majority of those who do have a job work in the informal sector.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Just this week, some Massachusetts senators voted in an informal session to advance a bill that would put a stop to springing forward and falling back.
    — Amanda Callahan, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of informal
Verb
  • For example, just recently, Musk publicly scolded the CEO of Delta in a scorching post on X when the airline did not partner with Starlink to provide Wi-Fi on Delta flights.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But leaders seeking to encourage tourism scolded residents who warned of the danger on social media.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of scolded
Adjective
  • These requirements suggest that Meta is exploring ways to make humanoid robots easier to interact with in everyday environments.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Gill said the gathering allows children to see firsthand that their faith is not just something taught at home, but something lived through everyday acts of kindness and compassion.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of everyday
Verb
  • Earhart lectured at the school before embarking on her final flight.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of lectured
Adjective
  • New visa rules for Australia and Japan Australia has long been popular with backpackers and young people looking to see the world and pick up casual work.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe plan on spending more than $20 for a casual lunch in the year 2026.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of casual
Verb
  • Mandell was later formally reprimanded for allowing another client’s hearing to be delayed by six years, during which time two witnesses died.
    — Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Denver school board censured director Monica Hunter on Thursday night, the third time in five years that the governing body of Colorado’s largest K-12 district has publicly reprimanded a colleague.
    — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of reprimanded
Verb
  • After leaving the field at the end of the third, Fried walked into the tunnel leading to the visitors’ clubhouse, flanked by pitching coach Matt Blake, who immediately called down to the bullpen to have Paul Blackburn warm up.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Even the New York State Police had been called down to join, and were standing around in their purple ties and Dudley Do-Right hats.
    — Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of called down
Verb
  • Rodolfo Friedmann, a party vice president, called for Peña's expulsion, while Senate President Basilio Núñez defended the president and blamed the central bank instead.
    — EMILIO SANABRIA, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Lawson said Amendment 3 outperformed a nationwide shift to the left, and blamed the loss on out-of-state donors contributing to the opposition.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of blamed

Browse Nearby Words

dressed
dressed down
dressed up
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Cite this Entry

“Dressed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressed%20down. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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