run down

1 to come upon after searching, study, or effort finally ran down the answer after hours of research Synonyms ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, find, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn upRelated Words espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seekNear Antonyms lose, mislay, misplace, missetAntonyms miss, overlook, pass over

2 to express scornfully one's low opinion of constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it Synonyms bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (also diss) [slang], discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, decry, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write offRelated Words discommend; abuse, scold; disapprove (of), dislike; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate; asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify; discredit, disgraceNear Antonyms approve, countenance, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, sanction; commend, compliment, eulogizeAntonyms acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise