thumbs-down

noun

Definition of thumbs-downnext
as in criticism

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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 thumbs-down Greg’s smile, contrasted with the frowns and thumbs-down from the rest of the crew, makes for an entertaining visual. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 But the Western States Petroleum Association, an industry trade group, gave Tuesday’s announcement a thumbs-down. — Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026 Ultimately, the Fillmore city council gave Aston the thumbs-down on Aston's bond idea. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2026 Those patients can provide feedback on Emmie’s responses with simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down reactions. — Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thumbs-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbs-down
  1. criticism
  2. distaste
  3. disapproval
  4. condemnation
  5. rejection
  6. censure
  7. denunciation
Noun
  • Trump's continuing criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and praise of Putin only give Putin further confidence the United States is not serious about imposing more severe sanctions.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • His government, the most nationalist and far-right in Israel’s history, faces domestic criticism over security failures and international criticism over the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of criticism
Noun
  • Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday that Cornyn’s continued distaste for Paxton was to blame if Paxton loses.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Samantha Sloyan is aware of the distaste for some of her past characters.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of distaste
Noun
  • But Republicans privately worry that growing disapproval of his administration is a liability.
    — Michelle S. Price, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The latest Fox News survey released Wednesday showed disapproval of the job Trump is doing has reached 77% on inflation, 70% on the economy, 69% on tariffs and 64% on foreign policy.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of disapproval
Noun
  • Trump’s move drew bipartisan condemnation from lawmakers who backed the measure overwhelmingly.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Netanyahu has criticized the violence but has taken few steps to crack down on incidents that have drawn international condemnation and sanction plans by longtime Israeli allies, including Britain.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of condemnation
Noun
  • When a property manager rejected a recommended rent, the adviser reviewed the rejection and the justification.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • If judgment is causing premature rejection of an employee’s approach, the manager can ask what evidence actually supports that judgment.
    — Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rejection
Noun
  • Football—besides being one of our more ubiquitous and unrestrained national entertainments—has also become one of the rare arenas in American life where highly specialized language can flourish without censure.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The board is also expected to consider whether to launch an investigation into the allegations and consider a censure vote.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of censure
Noun
  • The frontrunner is Marine Le Pen, who has worked for years to make her far-right party, the National Rally, more electable while campaigning on immigration, crime, and denunciation of an out-of-touch political class.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Each nutty denunciation of his imaginary tormentors includes a plea for a presidential pardon.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of denunciation

Browse Nearby Words

thumbs
thumbs-down
thumbs-downs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thumbs-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbs-down. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All