as in to simplify
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Recent Examples of dumb down
The apparent solution among the education establishment is not to challenge kids to stretch their minds and hit the books but rather to dumb down the curriculum so everyone passes.
—
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
For once, the Perrys promised, over many, many drinks, a movie would be made that didn’t dumb down the story on which it was based.
—Susan Cheever, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2025
This is clearly an assault on learning by the White House and an attempt to dumb down the national population.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
State and local leaders should also roll back any guidance that is meant to force teachers to dumb down curriculums or provide passing grades to students who are failing or inflate grades across the board.
—Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Build authentic LinkedIn content: skip the AI shortcuts Don't let AI dumb down your message.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The company wanted to ensure that amateurs could safely explore the car’s uncanny capabilities but didn’t want to dumb down the thrills.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2011
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
For once, the Perrys promised, over many, many drinks, a movie would be made that didn’t dumb down the story on which it was based.
—Susan Cheever, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2025
This is clearly an assault on learning by the White House and an attempt to dumb down the national population.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2025
State and local leaders should also roll back any guidance that is meant to force teachers to dumb down curriculums or provide passing grades to students who are failing or inflate grades across the board.
—Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Build authentic LinkedIn content: skip the AI shortcuts Don't let AI dumb down your message.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The company wanted to ensure that amateurs could safely explore the car’s uncanny capabilities but didn’t want to dumb down the thrills.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2011
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumb down
Verb
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This modification simplifies the drone’s thermal protection and internal insulation systems.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
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Parchment paper is often considered a baker's best friend, simplifying the baking process and making cleanup a breeze.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nigerian officials and outside analysts warned that framing the conflict strictly in religious terms risked oversimplifying complex security dynamics.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Dec. 2025
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But most of experts dismissed the Tweet as oversimplifying and attempting to extrapolate from an impossible comparison.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In an internal email to staff obtained by The Times, academy CEO Bill Kramer, who took the reins of the organization in 2022, framed the changes as part of a broader strategic initiative over the past two years aimed at streamlining operations to align with the academy’s evolving mission.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2026
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Politics aside, Newsom’s proposal would streamline governance that is now opaque and fragmented, and shields the system’s many points of authority from accountability.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dumb down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumb%20down. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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