TALK DOWN Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

talk down

verb

Definition of talk down

as in to dismiss

to express scornfully one's low opinion of a company that prefers to talk up its own products rather than talk down those of its competitors

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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 talk down Not talking down to them, and tackling real subject matter that’s universal, about family and relationships and nature versus nurture and grief. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026 The Malheur standoff also drew in the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, which Northern California sheriffs credited for talking down the Henrichsens and ending last month’s kidnapping without bloodshed. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2026 The influencer, or their manager, already expects to be talked down. — Chris Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026 Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O’Dowd, and Bryan Cranston lead an excellent voice cast in a family film that doesn’t talk down to the little ones while also providing cozy comfort for their parents. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for talk down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for talk down

Verb

The complaint escalates the department’s battle with the federal judiciary, which has halted administration priorities, dismissed high-profile prosecutions and accused government lawyers in some cases of failing to comply with court orders.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
The state did not seek to dismiss allegations related to Morrissey’s statements to the media or to her agreement to log a cache of bullets under a separate case number, functionally hiding them from the defense.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Verb

The 49ers have played from ahead in each of their three games, minimizing obvious passing situations and third-and-longs.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Those challenges include performing nonlinear operations, incorporating memory, maintaining computational precision, minimizing optical losses and integrating photonic components with conventional electronics.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

Yes, that’s twice as many treatment options as the previous Series 2 mask—which means this pick is clinically proven to diminish the appearance of crepiness by stimulating collagen and elastin, as well as pigmentation concerns.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
Likewise, the failure to hire an effective leader for the Blockchain Association has diminished the industry’s influence in the Capitol.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

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
The worst came during the early hours of July 28, when heavy rains fell on already soggy ground, running down steep hills into narrow river valleys — a perfect recipe for fast, devastating flooding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of run down

Verb

Trottier played down the middle in both games in his first rookie tournament and handled himself admirably.

— Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
With the Kroenke deal, the Angels will plug into a much larger sports and media ecosystem that should benefit the team that has always played down the road in Orange County in the shadow of the region’s beloved Los Angeles Dodgers franchise.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of play down

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“Talk down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talk%20down. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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