1
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
new hires always have to deal with put-downs and practical jokes from the older employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criticism
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant
your never-ending put-down of my musical talents is really starting to annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
he has the annoying habit of putting down others under the guise of offering constructive criticism
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to record
to make a written note of
we had the whole agreement put down on paper
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3
as in to enter
to put (someone or something) on a list
put her down as one of the chaperones for the field trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
a tyrant who ruthlessly put down uprisings
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to attribute
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
a fender bender that probably can be put down to the young driver's inexperience
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to eat
to take in as food
the husky youngster seemed to put down her own weight in food at one sitting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put-down
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 27 Mar. 2025
Ageism shows up, for example, in some commercials, with the cliched generational put-downs.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
And the president of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
Some in-laws may be more subtle with their put-downs.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 27 Mar. 2025
Ageism shows up, for example, in some commercials, with the cliched generational put-downs.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
However, recent investment and growth have put them back on the map as appealing, affordable places to put down roots.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
And the president of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
-
The president and the governor are having a momentous fight about constitutional rights in the courts, and flaming each other with insults and photoshopped memes on Truth Social and X. The ICE raids have thrown some Angelenos into a state of fear and virtual hiding.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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And while many residents and officials in Los Angeles have sought to tamp down reactions to the sometimes-violent protests, President Donald Trump and his administration have appeared to fan the flames, hurling insults in social media posts and encouraging an aggressive response to protests.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
11 June 2025
Noun
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When the new Tesla Model 3 came out at the end of 2023 (which the company claims isn’t called Highland despite everyone else calling it that), its lack of an indicator stalk (like the Model S Plaid) garnered criticism.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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The decision comes after months of criticism for punishing a woman fencer who refused to fence a trans opponent, which included scrutiny from federal lawmakers at a congressional hearing in early May.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Last month, Fernando Casas-Gamboa’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, alleging that ICE is wrongly detaining his client on immigration grounds despite Major ordering his pre-trial release in the criminal case.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
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Operation Ajax, a joint CIA-British operation, convinced the Shah of Iran, the country’s monarch, to dismiss Mossadegh and drive him from office by force.—
Jeffrey Fields,
The Conversation,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Strachwitz’s aim was to record Chenier singing in Creole French.—
Alicia Ault,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
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South Korean arms have been popular in recent years as defense spending surged, sending shares of the country’s defense firms to record highs.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Learn the telltale signs iron is entering your water from your main supply, old pipes, or a well.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2025
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To keep adult carpet beetles from entering your home altogether, consider keeping doors and windows closed, or investing in screen covers.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
22 June 2025
Verb
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Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell defended his department’s handling of recent protests, saying officers acted appropriately to quell unrest — pushing back against criticism about aggressive crowd control tactics used during demonstrations against President Trump’s immigration crackdown.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
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President Donald Trump just announced a ceasefire between the Middle Eastern countries—potentially quelling oil market fears of Iran’s plans to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway to global oil trade.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
Verb
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The heat can be attributed to an upper-level ridge of high pressure over the eastern United States that’s causing surface temperatures to increase, Belak said.—
Irit Skulnik,
Baltimore Sun,
23 June 2025
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Forty-two lightning deaths have been reported in Texas since 2006, second only to Florida, where 93 deaths have been attributed to lightning over the same time span.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
Verb
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The successful hatchings come about a year after Scout ate two of his chicks as a first-time dad, leaving the pair with no surviving eaglets from their first nesting season, McClatchy News previously reported.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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