TALKING DOWN Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

talking down

verb

present participle of talk down

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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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 talking down Leadership training disputes The lawsuit alleges Petersen began subjecting Kennon to discriminatory treatment around January 2024, including talking down to her, ignoring her and questioning her judgment. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026 Any emphasis in his Jackson Hole address on his commitment to 2% inflation could help in talking down long bond yields. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 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 In a daring high-wire act high above the East River, fearless NYPD cops spent nearly an hour on a span of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge talking down a woman desperately threatening to jump. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026 Politicos everywhere are talking down Johnson’s chances. — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 During his remarks, Beshear accused Vance, whose memoir explores issues such as poverty and the lack of opportunity in Appalachia and the Rust Belt, of talking down to the people of Kentucky. — Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026 Worldfor never talking down to me or being too afraid to address the hard things in life. — Anna Earl, Parents, 12 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down

Verb

A day after dismissing Dana Brown, Astros owner Jim Crane fielded a question specifically about Bagwell’s potential candidacy.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
That doesn't mean Cramer is dismissing the risks from higher oil.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

This curious experimenter group is all about catching mistakes, working through early unexpected results—hello, hallucinations—and minimizing adoption pains.

— Robbie Morrison, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Use a balance transfer credit card A balance transfer can move your existing debt to a new card offering a low or 0% introductory APR, potentially giving you a year or longer to pay down the balance while minimizing interest charges.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of minimizing

Verb

And this ratio has been declining since 2006, as evidenced by the major trend line running down the chart.

— Todd Gordon, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
Photos of Bellin's injuries taken after the incident showed Bellin with blood running down her face and left arm and hand.

— Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of running down

Verb

Seemingly, the only thing that could slow down the automobile takeover was diminishing fuel supplies, fear of which had become a fixation of American oil companies and government officials after the Armistice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Having already weathered so many attacks aimed at diminishing its power, the remaining Iranian leadership, which learned to tolerate hardship in the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, is unlikely to be cowed by further aggression.

— JAMES F. JEFFREY, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminishing

Verb

Mudryk, a right-footed forward best known for playing down the left, is among Leeds’ preferred options and talks are ongoing with Chelsea, despite an initial knock-back.

— Beren Cross, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
In response to the concerns, companies including Amazon and Microsoft have been playing down the issue, saying the data center water use can be done responsibly, or sourced from wastewater.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of playing down

Verb

But as his brace against Uzbekistan showed, writing off Ronaldo remains a dangerous mistake.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
So, before writing off a sluggish job candidate search as a market issue, take a hard look at the listing itself, from the title to the requirements, the compensation and the hiring process.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 23 June 2026