Definition of put-downnext

put down

2 of 2

verb

1
2
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
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

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 put-down
Noun
Sadly, that period ended with the closure of newspapers, the violent put-down of protests and the arrest of more than a thousand along with many deaths. Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 2026 When Marilyn Walker was a little girl, her grandmother introduced her to sarcasm through genteel put-downs that sounded sweet but weren’t. Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Patrick put down the phone and immediately texted MacLellan, who called him right then. Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 6 July 2026 In the 1800s, a Methodist congregation pushed across the country’s frontier to Missouri and put down roots that remain today. Harry Bruinius, Christian Science Monitor, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
  • The insults often accompany reports and even videos of kids and teens engaging in reckless riding — weaving through traffic, running stop signs, ignoring pedestrians, and performing stunts like wheelies in opposing lanes, sometimes without helmets.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
  • During the night shift at Illinois's The Wiener's Circle, sassy Poochi Rollins slings Chicago red hots loaded with mustard, relish, onions, and more—with a side of insult comedy.
    CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Yet Valdés Ugalde points out that the US shows no signs of caring about Mexican criticisms of its immigration policy.
    Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
  • The veteran official has spent 2026 fielding criticism, and his last month has been rough.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • That suit was dismissed after a judge ruled that Lively’s accusations were protected by litigation privilege.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 9 July 2026
  • News outlets uncovered years-old comments on Reddit that appeared to endorse political violence, dismiss rape in the military, criticize rural Americans and use anti-gay slurs.
    Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Compare that to a Caltech air monitor in Pasadena, which recorded about 650 micrograms per cubic meter during last year’s Eaton fire.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • The right side of his stomach was bleeding, said Houston resident Juliet Martinez, who recorded the video and shared it with CNN.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • The early returns were surprising for a candidate who had entered the race with little name recognition but, by Election Day, had become an unlikely figure in the increasingly bitter contest between the two Democrats.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
  • Once the moon enters Taurus, however, the pace slows down, and the need for stability takes precedence.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • The security adjustments aren’t expected to quell Mexico’s World Cup fever.
    Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The people ended up burning down the house of one of the tax collectors, prompting President George Washington to raise the first federal army against them and quickly quell the revolt.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Last year, nearly 270 deaths of Santa Clara County residents older than 65 were attributed in part to a fall.
    Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
  • Officials attribute the growth to an expanding network of direct flights between major Indian and Vietnamese cities and Vietnam's liberal e-visa policy.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Don't forget to check the social media accounts of your local favorite eating spots for more deals.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Many kinds of fly larvae eat dead or decaying tissue and may sometimes end up on meat, but New World screwworm larvae need living tissue to survive and develop.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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