as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
public protests against the dictatorial government were always promptly slapped down
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Recent Examples of slap down
The White House argued that a national security law dating back to the 1970s—the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—gives the President the authority to declare an emergency and slap down tariffs on his own.
—
Philip Wang,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Time and time again, courts have slapped down these strong-arm tactics that lack the force of law.
—
Bob Morgan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
The production runs for 2026 and 2027 are sold out, but future flyers can jump in the queue for the 2028 build now by slapping down a deposit of US$8,000.
—
New Atlas,
14 Oct. 2025
And that’s the big ol’ marker general manager Adam Peters has slapped down on the table, a year-plus into his stint here.
—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Philip Wang,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Time and time again, courts have slapped down these strong-arm tactics that lack the force of law.
—
Bob Morgan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
The production runs for 2026 and 2027 are sold out, but future flyers can jump in the queue for the 2028 build now by slapping down a deposit of US$8,000.
—
New Atlas,
14 Oct. 2025
And that’s the big ol’ marker general manager Adam Peters has slapped down on the table, a year-plus into his stint here.
—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down
Verb
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Authorities lifted the order hours later as crews quelled the flames.
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But the back half is a heady object lesson in the limits of partnership—how even the right person can’t fully quell whatever torment lurks in the recesses of one’s consciousness.
Verb
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Things like trying to disqualify the entire Utah County Attorney's Office, trying to get some of the evidence suppressed, trying to get a contempt order because the prosecutors violated the court's gag order.
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One key group that appeared to be suppressed, Prevotella species, may interfere with the production of nitric oxide.
Verb
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This set is subdued and classic, yet still ideal for the season.
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Investors need to see traffic through the strait rise meaningfully in the coming weeks and months at a minimum to keep prices subdued.
Verb
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Another capability comes from processing unstructured information, since companies already sit on enormous amounts of customer feedback, reviews, research, operational data and industry commentary, but historically, going through all of it manually took far too much time.
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The Obama Foundation spent some time choosing between Washington Park and Jackson Park, which sit on either side of the University of Chicago campus, before choosing the lakefront location.
Verb
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Unlike the traditional models that seem to put down roots around residential buildings and become impossible to eradicate, the Arup prototypes will come down soon.
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This may seem obvious, but experts have seen socks and undergarments put down the toilet—when they really shouldn't be flushed.
Cite this Entry
“Slap down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap%20down. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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