as in criticism
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Recent Examples of thumbs-down
Drivers honked their horns in support, while supporters gave thumbs-down reactions to those frequenting the coffee chain.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
When asked who is the better cook, the pair hilariously reacted by both making faces and giving thumbs-down signs.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
And Antetokounmpo, who had earlier booed back at the crowd after a thunderous dunk, put his fingers to his lips again, before giving the crowd an emphatic thumbs-down.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2025
The evening prior, a clip of Justin Bieber in full Jays gear went viral after the Swag singer was seen responding to one of Shohei Ohtani‘s home runs with a thumbs-down.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
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
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
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
When asked who is the better cook, the pair hilariously reacted by both making faces and giving thumbs-down signs.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
And Antetokounmpo, who had earlier booed back at the crowd after a thunderous dunk, put his fingers to his lips again, before giving the crowd an emphatic thumbs-down.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2025
The evening prior, a clip of Justin Bieber in full Jays gear went viral after the Swag singer was seen responding to one of Shohei Ohtani‘s home runs with a thumbs-down.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbs-down
Noun
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And cornerback Mike Jackson, who had four pass breakups and an interception in the playoff game, dismissed criticism of Evero’s play-calling on the defense’s final drive.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
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The couple, who did not grow up knowing one another because of estrangements in their families, faced criticism from both sets of parents for the union.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Wylde, who has introduced Mamdani to many business leaders in the city since his election, said there’s widespread distaste for his tax-the-rich agenda in local business communities.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
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That’s why, even when a team with six losses sits a ways away from panic, Caruso finds distaste when licking his wounds.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Among Independent voters the president is at 68 percent disapproval in the Gallup poll.—
Juan Williams,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Kelly ended his round of questions for Hegseth with a stamp of disapproval.—
Ronald J. Hansen,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The shooting inflamed tensions a day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, prompting protests and condemnation from state and city officials there.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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Elon Musk’s xAI has restricted its AI chatbot Grok’s image generation capabilities to paying subscribers only, following widespread condemnation over its use to create non-consensual sexualized images of real women and children.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The movement is considered a response to the ever-present and growing sense of alienation among people, as well as a rejection of the traditional depictions of everyday life in Eastern Europe.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
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Cyclosporine Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant that is used after an organ transplant to prevent organ rejection.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hegseth’s recent censure of Kelly accuses him of Conduct Unbecoming An Officer and Violating Good Order And Discipline (less serious parts of the UCMJ and more open to interpretation).—
Michael Szalma,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
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Hegseth this week backed off that losing proposition and instead issued a censure for Kelly and started a process to demote him in retirement, which would reduce his pension.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Condemnations Some South American leaders offered some of the strongest and swiftest denunciations, alongside Iran and Russia.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2026
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In addition to Murton's denunciations of conditions at Cummins and Tucker, his book explores the woefully inadequate women's prison, located on the same grounds as Cummins.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thumbs-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbs-down. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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