as in criticism
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Recent Examples of thumbs-down
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
Bakare then went on to gesture thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
According to February Gallup polling, 42 percent of Americans are giving a thumbs-up to Trump’s economic stewardship while 54 percent are giving him a thumbs-down.
Approval of Trump’s handling of the economy also fell to 39 percent from 43 percent in polling released last week by Reuters/Ipsos.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 1 Mar. 2025
From thumbs-up to thumbs-downs, here’s how critics are reacting.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
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
Bakare then went on to gesture thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
According to February Gallup polling, 42 percent of Americans are giving a thumbs-up to Trump’s economic stewardship while 54 percent are giving him a thumbs-down.
Approval of Trump’s handling of the economy also fell to 39 percent from 43 percent in polling released last week by Reuters/Ipsos.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 1 Mar. 2025
From thumbs-up to thumbs-downs, here’s how critics are reacting.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbs-down
Noun
-
Two weeks after first pointing a firehose of blistering criticism at the Donald Trump administration, South Park is still going full bore against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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YouTube and other social media platforms are cracking down on age verification measures after facing criticism that teens could circumvent their safeguards by signing up with a fake birthdate.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The showrunner has flaunted his distaste for mainstream Hollywood, and the feeling may be mutual: this summer, his six ongoing series were once again snubbed by the Emmys.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
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Schlereth, who played in the NFL long before analytics were introduced, expressed his distaste for the usage of metrics.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
June 16-12: Trump’s approval rating remained stagnant at 42% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll taken June 11-16, compared to the groups’ May poll, but his disapproval rating increased two points, to 54%, in the latest survey of 4,258 U.S. adults (margin of error 2).—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Trump's approval rating in the same poll is 46 percent versus a 51 percent disapproval rating.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The shooting drew condemnation for what some deemed an extreme amount of force.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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The school, which is not affiliated with Lincoln County Schools, prompted community outrage and public condemnation from school leaders.—
Evan Moore
August 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Player rejection after player rejection in the transfer market?—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
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In the end, the real sale is trust, and trust is earned in the pause between rejection and return.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Bolick pointed also to the Maricopa County Republican Committee's 2024 censure of the Arizona Supreme Court.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
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Libby said no reason was given for Wednesday's surprise resolution that ended the censure.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
His denunciation did little to change their policy.—
Rosalyn R. LaPier,
The Conversation,
12 Aug. 2025
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His denunciation of Stephen Colbert was unforgivably petty.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thumbs-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbs-down. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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