RUNS DOWN Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

runs down

verb

present tense third-person singular of run down

as in finds

to come upon after searching, study, or effort finally ran down the answer after hours of research

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as in dismisses

to express scornfully one's low opinion of constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it

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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 runs down In the world of Dune, the suit transforms the sweat into drinking water; but in the Mexican desert, the sweat just pools, sticks to my skin and runs down my arms. — Kyle MacLachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 Neural cells form as a thickening of the ectoderm that runs down the center of the embryo from head to tail. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026 Underneath, the meat is white and the juice runs down along the side. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026 Take, for example, the watershed that runs down Clear Creek Canyon below Lookout Mountain, Mount Vernon and Rainbow Hill. — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026 The Reds rallied from three runs down in the eighth inning after White Sox starter Sean Burke allowed only one run on three hits in seven innings. — CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Blood runs down Zack’s chin before his parents swear to tell the truth. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026 After the match, David Finlay attacks White before the rest of the Bang Bang Gang runs down to make the save. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 All of these cameras were previously approved for use and sale in the US, but are now set to be added to the Covered List once the 30-day clock runs down. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for runs down

Verb

But when the 17-year-old Russian returns what seems like moments later with a solution to significantly advance the theories outlined in the paper, the professor finds himself with a new research partner.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Pi-o immediately packs his bags, and finds the church on the front of the postcard.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of finds

Verb

If your team is afraid to name real weaknesses, or if leadership dismisses uncomfortable truths, the analysis won’t do what it’s meant to do.

— Nancy Padberg, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Risks, but not existential ones Not everyone dismisses the risk quite so bluntly, though.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismisses

Verb

Jason Sudeikis does sneak in the final emotional moment, when Ted learns that Mae Green, the beloved owner of the local Crown & Anchor pub, apparently died while cheering on the team from the stands.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Verity is immobile and catatonic, and Lowen learns that the family’s life is also darkened by a child’s accidental death.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of learns

Verb

The movie’s heady content — Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the title role as a high-schooler who discovers the philosophy of time travel alongside his responsibility to change fate — provided endless fodder for late-night discussions, sober or otherwise.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
In one story, a little boy discovers a magical garden that appears only on the darkest nights; in another, two sisters use the moon as a boat and sail into the sky.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of discovers

Verb

When the quantum of color deposited by the brush diminishes, and grows lighter, its essence as paint applied by brush reveals itself.

— Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The impressive density of this overload, which embraces the possibilities of relatively new technology to find novel ways to deliver and compress context, diminishes as Carter is drawn to Japan by Izumi Adachi (Kiko Mizuhara).

— Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Verb

It is funded through the Job Development Investment Grant program, which directs a portion of a JDIG award to the account when a company locates or expands in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 county.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026
Peng’s wardrobe consistently locates her within China, drawing on domestic design and recognizable elements of Chinese dress.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of locates

Verb

So there’s a chance to get some plays down the field for the Panthers.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
If any lingering question of home-court advantage persisted, it was made crystal clear in the final 30 seconds who had the biggest backing, as Barclays erupted in celebration of the Liberty’s game-winning plays down the stretch.

— Annie Costabile, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of plays down

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“Runs down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runs%20down. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of runs down

verb

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