as in criticism
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Recent Examples of thumbs-down
In 2017, the streamer scrapped its five-star ratings, replacing them with thumbs-up/thumbs-down buttons.
—
Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
These sites cut against the stereotypical image of a critic as an expert dispensing a thumbs-up or thumbs-down like a Roman emperor.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
However, users can mark any ad with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to help manage their ads preferences.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The essence of the review is evaluation, which of course doesn’t imply the crude simplicity of a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
That legislation collapsed when then-Sen. John McCain famously cast a thumbs-down vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is determined to avoid that outcome, sticking to the schedule and pressing ahead with voting expected by the end of the week.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 June 2025
After some thumbs-up, thumbs-down tweaks, the images were surprisingly spot-on.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Shareholders gave Zaslav a symbolic (read: non-binding) thumbs-down last week, when a majority of voters rejected his $51.9 million compensation package.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025
After the World Series and the Gold Glove, after a trade to New York, a thumbs-down to Mets fans, Báez signed with the Detroit Tigers on a six-year, $140 million deal.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
These sites cut against the stereotypical image of a critic as an expert dispensing a thumbs-up or thumbs-down like a Roman emperor.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
However, users can mark any ad with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to help manage their ads preferences.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The essence of the review is evaluation, which of course doesn’t imply the crude simplicity of a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
That legislation collapsed when then-Sen. John McCain famously cast a thumbs-down vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is determined to avoid that outcome, sticking to the schedule and pressing ahead with voting expected by the end of the week.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 June 2025
After some thumbs-up, thumbs-down tweaks, the images were surprisingly spot-on.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Shareholders gave Zaslav a symbolic (read: non-binding) thumbs-down last week, when a majority of voters rejected his $51.9 million compensation package.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025
After the World Series and the Gold Glove, after a trade to New York, a thumbs-down to Mets fans, Báez signed with the Detroit Tigers on a six-year, $140 million deal.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbs-down
Noun
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The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and son of famed zookeeper and television personality Steve Irwin further elaborated just why Russell's constructive criticism means so much.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Chmerkovskiy then also remarked on the public's criticisms about his DWTS tenure.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The TikTok video was posted on October 8, and social-media users are obsessed with the dog’s utter distaste toward the litter of puppies.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Trump has made no secret of his distaste for Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His approval rating has sunk to historic lows - with disapproval now topping 60%, though polls suggest the outcome Sunday remains uncertain.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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Even with occasional disapproval from stadium officials—cleaning up thousands of tortillas is no small task—the tradition endured.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The ruling prompted swift condemnation from Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who released a video promising stricter deportation laws.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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By that time the show had provoked a wave of excited condemnation from commentators online who seemed most consistently offended by the bodysuit printed with the (hairy) image of a (totally) naked male body worn by a female model.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Moore’s journey reveals how Black Nationalism emerged not simply as a rejection of American ideals, but as a demand for their true fulfillment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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Trump imposed fresh sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies—Rosneft and Lukoil—for its rejection of a ceasefire, applying extra economic pressure on the Kremlin to make peace in Ukraine.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In addition to initiating the censure process, the City Council called for a special meeting, with Barbadillo, Lam and Chua in favor.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
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In doing so, the palace must weigh distancing itself from Andrew with ensuring the blowback from any further censure does not do even more damage to an institution that requires public buy-in.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Far from being simply a denunciation of marginalization, the song becomes a sincere embrace of vulnerable childhoods, highlighting the pain of those who grow up in poverty, neglect, and, often, are forced into crime as a means of survival.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
26 Sep. 2025
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Cinema sometimes has to know how to give in to a cause, but another thing entirely is to impoverish cinema by attributing to documentary cinema a mere and strict role of denunciation.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thumbs-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbs-down. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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