as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
I was called down by my supervisor for not catching the accounting error sooner
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Recent Examples of call down
Trail Cams Go To War Trail Cams could be used like the sensors in Igloo White, to call down attacks on logistics vehicles by FPV drones.
—
David Hambling, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
This ranges from being able to call down lightning strikes, to conjuring twisters, to freezing foes solid with sub-zero temperatures.
—Griff Griffin, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
The producers call down to WBZ's Steve Burton, who's working as tonight's sideline reporter.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2024
The pilot would locate an enemy position and mark it with small smoke bombs; an artillery spotter could then call down a barrage on the marked location.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
A number of companies are vying to win the business of apartment community companies interested in providing their residents with amenities that might best be called down to earth.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
If the alarm rang outside business hours, someone would need to call down a list of seismologists until someone agreed to come in.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024
Dennis called down to a Detroit police officer on the street.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
There were other questionable calls down the stretch in that one.
—Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
David Hambling, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
This ranges from being able to call down lightning strikes, to conjuring twisters, to freezing foes solid with sub-zero temperatures.
—Griff Griffin, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
The producers call down to WBZ's Steve Burton, who's working as tonight's sideline reporter.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2024
The pilot would locate an enemy position and mark it with small smoke bombs; an artillery spotter could then call down a barrage on the marked location.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
A number of companies are vying to win the business of apartment community companies interested in providing their residents with amenities that might best be called down to earth.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
If the alarm rang outside business hours, someone would need to call down a list of seismologists until someone agreed to come in.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024
Dennis called down to a Detroit police officer on the street.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
There were other questionable calls down the stretch in that one.
—Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call down
Verb
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What leads children to be scolded for poor behavior can snowball into difficulties keeping a job, maintaining healthy relationships, and even staying out of prison.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2025
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And despite being scolded by school administrators for it and having to file a lawsuit, more and more students began to show up each week wearing the shirts, as the school had to alter its dress code and start placing students in detention for wearing them.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On one occasion, Aldous Huxley lectured on the lurid life of the Renaissance visionary Carlo Gesualdo.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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Marcy Thompson: The couple moved to Berlin, where Rudolf was invited to lecture for the German Social Democratic Party.—
Marcy Thompson,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In 2011, in the southern city of Daraa, a group of teen-age boys were caught painting anti-government graffiti on a wall, and, rather than simply reprimand them, secret police tortured them to death.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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However, the post by TikTok Policy claims that internet hosting services will not be reprimanded for restoring the platform under Trump.—
Greta Cross,
USA TODAY,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After calling for a moment of silence in the White House press briefing room on Thursday, Trump went on the attack, blaming the tragedy on his Democratic predecessors and their emphasis on diversity in hiring.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
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What People Are Saying President Donald Trump blamed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for the crash and also questioned the helicopter crew's actions during a news conference on Thursday.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump used the signing ceremony as an opportunity to criticize Canada, with continuing negotiations between him and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid threats of 25% tariffs from both sides.—
Naomi Lim,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
3 Feb. 2025
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Legislative Democrats continue to criticize Lee's proposal for its lack of accountability measures, among other aspects.—
Vivian Jones,
The Tennessean,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Elsa Hosk dressed down a blazer with denim at Valentino‘s spring 2025 couture fashion show in Paris on Wednesday.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
29 Jan. 2025
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There were few in the sharply dressed and cavernous Palm Springs Convention Center who dressed down.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
4 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near call down
Cite this Entry
“Call down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20down. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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