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
Between pushes, the nurse slips the soaked green sheet out from under me, slaps down a clean one.
—
Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
And then you'd be slapped down, immediately and politely, as is Hamm's way.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Then this week, Steele slapped down a bid to stay his preliminary injunction.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
Trump slapped down a small group of blue state Republican lawmakers, mostly from the New York suburbs, who are pushing for a big increase in the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
And then you'd be slapped down, immediately and politely, as is Hamm's way.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Then this week, Steele slapped down a bid to stay his preliminary injunction.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
Trump slapped down a small group of blue state Republican lawmakers, mostly from the New York suburbs, who are pushing for a big increase in the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down
Verb
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While Warren Buffett, the chairman of BNSF parent Berkshire Hathaway, shot down the Goldman speculation, that hasn’t quelled chatter that CSX may be in the railroad’s crosshairs as an acquisition target.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
28 July 2025
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In order to try and quell the escalation, former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra rang Hun Manet’s father, Hun Sen to soothe tensions.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Sandra Lynn Hemme filed the suit Thursday, which accuses investigators of fabricating evidence, coercing a false confession and suppressing evidence that could have proven her innocence.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
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Past research, Jansen notes, has found that cannabis can suppress the immune system through its active compounds: CBD, THC and other minor cannabinoids.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Along with other bystanders, Perry helped subdue the perpetrator, whom officials identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
29 July 2025
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The stabbing rampage that took place Saturday, July 26, left 11 people injured before onlookers, one of them apparently armed with a handgun, subdued the suspect in the parking lot outside the store just before police arrived, police said.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
Stand Up to Cancer’s fundraising benefit show is putting down roots in Nashville for one night only.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
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If Hamas released the Israeli hostages still in captivity and put down its weapons, the argument goes, the war would be over.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slap down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap%20down. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
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