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 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 Misfits is a great example of a show for a teenage audience that respects its demographic rather than talking down to them. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026 Forever captures the rush and confusion of first love without talking down to its audience. — Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025 Never met someone successful ever talking down to someone online. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down

Verb

Washington has gone from dismissing Zelensky to seeking deals of its own with Ukraine.

— Thomas Nagorski, Time, 27 July 2026
An unchecked ego further erodes psychological safety, as dismissing feedback signals that team contributions are unwelcome, creating dangerous blind spots.

— Dr. Samantha Madhosingh, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

Wallet doesn’t have this feature, so Rocket Money may be a better fit for a customer who needs more support in minimizing their monthly payments.

— Catherine Collins, USA Today, 26 July 2026
Satin pillowcases protect hair and skin overnight by minimizing friction, frizz and dryness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026

Definition of minimizing

Verb

But with knowledge that the clock was running down on the strategy, the administration has, in recent months, embarked on a pathway toward more durable duties using trade authorities that the president has leveraged in the past.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 22 July 2026
Burke touted a system of elevated guideways running down many of Los Angeles’ major roads, above auto traffic.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of running down

Verb

Staffs are diminishing as layoffs in the industry remain rampant, as was seen in the ESPN firings this week, and reporters are being tasked with juggling several responsibilities at once.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
At 28 years old, clubs will also factor in his diminishing resale value.

— Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of diminishing

Verb

If a team has one or zero subs left, a red-card offence would result in them playing down a man.

— The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Mexico pledged to investigate the origins of the parasite outbreak, while playing down the idea that contamination occurred in its territory.

— Jaewon Kang, Fortune, 18 July 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