as in dismissing
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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Recent Examples of talking down
Boys Go to Jupiter captures an adolescent malaise without talking down to its teens — there is no preaching about real jobs, responsibilities, or five-year plans.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down
Verb
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The latest clash reflects a broader pattern, with Netanyahu’s government having chronic tensions with the military echelon since the cabinet was sworn in in January 2023, often dismissing military advice.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
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In fact, toxic positivity is very different from overall, everyday positivity and can lead to minimizing or entirely dismissing real experiences and emotions that are felt and experienced.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The schedule will continue to get tougher from here, so minimizing those first quarter mistakes will be essential.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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Its guidelines include optimizing thermostat settings, minimizing electricity and hot water use, and leveraging natural light.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The prosecutor's office said additional officers who responded to the scene saw a man, later identified as 29-year-old Shaquille Green, running down a nearby street.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Police do not believe Carbajal was involved in the initial shots fired call and are still looking to speak with the woman who was running down the stairs, Clark added.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The difference is the wisdom to recognize that giving away public-trust land and diminishing our quality of life forsakes the permanent greater good for the temporary benefit of a few developers and residents.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
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In an era of diminishing trust in government institutions and the media, conspiracy theories about high-profile crimes can get significant traction in the absence of a conclusive motive.—
Ernesto Londoño,
Twin Cities,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There’s usually a physical requirement, as well as severely playing down the high-wattage glamor that got you on red carpets in the first place.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Chiefs know something about playing down a man or two at the position.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Instead of writing off entire nations, development banks could channel financing to subnational jurisdictions that demonstrate resilience.—
Robert Ginsburg,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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But folks aren’t writing off Clemson now.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Talking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking%20down. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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