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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 slap down
In the weeks leading up to the April 1 election, officials, including Tinley Park fire Chief Steve Klotz, had to slap down persistent rumors the Tinley and Orland fire agencies were studying a merger of operations.
—
Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 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
Managing to directly stay out the Lively-Baldoni fray (though not the tabloids’ speculations of the state of Lively-Swift friendship) until recently, the controversy adverse Swift was quick to slap down the subpoena Baldoni’s team served on her at the beginning of this month.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 May 2025
An appeals court on Thursday slapped down the administration’s attempt to get out of providing more information about its efforts to bring back Abrego Garcia.
—Patrick Reis, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 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
Managing to directly stay out the Lively-Baldoni fray (though not the tabloids’ speculations of the state of Lively-Swift friendship) until recently, the controversy adverse Swift was quick to slap down the subpoena Baldoni’s team served on her at the beginning of this month.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 May 2025
An appeals court on Thursday slapped down the administration’s attempt to get out of providing more information about its efforts to bring back Abrego Garcia.
—Patrick Reis, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down
Verb
-
The secondary route is a battle upward from the city of Ephyra to Mount Olympus to learn who is aiding Chronos in his siege of the mortal realm and quell it.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Rahm’s fantastic shot quelled any momentum Schauffele and Cantlay had built.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Multiple fire departments worked to suppress the blaze, police said.—
Charles Ventura,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Tigers pitchers, meanwhile, rank 14th in suppressing home runs.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Inflation remains stubbornly high and the economic outlook subdued, frustrating efforts to repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
There were no injuries, and when officers arrived customers had subdued the suspect, police said in a news release.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian media on Saturday that Kim will sit on Xi's left side during Wednesday's parade, with Putin in the place of honor on the right.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Tabletop This style is small enough to sit on your dining table, a dresser or other prominent display area in your home.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Max Verstappen set the early time to beat on hard tyres before Hamilton briefly went quickest as the track started to evolve and rubber started getting put down by the cars.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The seemingly unstoppable rise of South Indian movie-making was put down to Indian cinema-goers’ desire for mass-market features that reflect the entire country.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slap down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap%20down. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share