1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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 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 For opponents, that can feel like the tennis equivalent of a thumbs-down from a Roman emperor. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 3 Feb. 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
  • The remarks drew criticism from some Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, including the Israeli-American Council, which called for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The loss aggravated criticism of quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ lack of protection for him.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticism
Noun
  • Some have also shared with me a profound distaste for how their friends and family are using AI for therapy and companionship, and a deep concern for their future employment prospects.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But all of that distaste was supposed to go away when the games began, when the undefeated and delicious product that is college football finally got the chance to shove the ancillary stuff back into the shadows.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of distaste
Noun
  • Over the same period, his disapproval rating rose from 6% to 69%.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Trump’s approval rating is clocking in at roughly 38%, according to The New York Times polling average, which pins his disapproval at about 59%.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of disapproval
Noun
  • One particularly problematic scene has the villagers, among them the lovestruck and jealous Wilf, confronting Philip until he is forced to lash out physically, leading to further condemnation.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • With protests against the moves beginning to take shape, the crackdowns show no signs of letting up, even as international attention and condemnation begins to pour in.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of condemnation
Noun
  • With breathtaking speed, a little over a month after the Good Earth casting rejection, Wong left Hollywood to fulfill her lifelong dream of visiting China.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Maybe, then, the work isn’t so much a project, but a lifelong mission, an analogue rejection of video being the medium of instant gratification.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of rejection
Noun
  • Once rare, censures and expulsions have become more common, particularly in the House.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Following the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson asked Edwards to present himself in the well of the chamber as the censure resolution was read aloud.
    — John Parkinson, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of censure
Noun
  • Apple prefaced its reveal with a denunciation of foldables that open into a square aspect ratio.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • What Assange wanted was not a system hardened against attacks, but one tied in knots, hopelessly conflicted and filled with suspicion, denunciations, and purges.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nemesis

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All