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
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
But his vague inferences have been easily slapped down with clear details about prices not being met and no promises being made.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
That's the same thing that Alabama did after the 2020 Census, only to be slapped down by the Supreme Court two years ago when a narrow court majority ruled that the state had illegally diluted the Black vote in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 27 June 2025
Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration opened a new front in its war against Harvard this week, attempting to block all international students from attending the university — and swiftly getting slapped down by a federal judge.
—Cameron Peters, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for slap down
David Aldridge, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
But his vague inferences have been easily slapped down with clear details about prices not being met and no promises being made.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
That's the same thing that Alabama did after the 2020 Census, only to be slapped down by the Supreme Court two years ago when a narrow court majority ruled that the state had illegally diluted the Black vote in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 27 June 2025
Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration opened a new front in its war against Harvard this week, attempting to block all international students from attending the university — and swiftly getting slapped down by a federal judge.
—Cameron Peters, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down
Verb
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While acids like salicylic and gluconolactone resurface and clarify skin, botanicals like mugwort and cica (and many of its compounds, such as madecassoside and asiaticoside) work to quell redness, irritation, and inflammation, leaving behind calmer-looking skin with every cleanse.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
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The case helped fuel a revolt across Wall Street, mostly since quelled, by junior talent tired of 120-hour weeks.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In August 2025, a judge concluded that Vedam had not been given a fair trial due to prosecutors’ efforts to suppress evidence.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But dismissing or minimizing disappointment can unintentionally teach children to ignore or suppress emotions.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Joe Brusuelas, senior economist at RSM US, highlighted a few of those factors when pushing back on White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett’s claim Monday that subdued job gains are primarily the result of lower population figures and higher productivity.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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State Police troopers used a Taser in an attempt to subdue him.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even further down the line, a set of private residences for purchase will sit on the beach south of the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
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Wipe the fabric down with a damp cloth when you’re finished and don’t allow anyone to sit on the cushions until the fabric is completely dry.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Yet lawyers for the parents suing point to internal documents at the companies stressing the goal of making social media apps difficult to put down through features like infinite scroll, auto-play, likes, beauty filters and push notifications.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
18 Feb. 2026
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His die-hard Red Shirt supporters took to the streets of Bangkok in 2010 in protests that were violently put down.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slap down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap%20down. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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