1
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
new hires always have to deal with put-downs and practical jokes from the older employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criticism
the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant
your never-ending put-down of my musical talents is really starting to annoy me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
he has the annoying habit of putting down others under the guise of offering constructive criticism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to record
to make a written note of
we had the whole agreement put down on paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to enter
to put (someone or something) on a list
put her down as one of the chaperones for the field trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
a tyrant who ruthlessly put down uprisings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to attribute
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
a fender bender that probably can be put down to the young driver's inexperience
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to eat
to take in as food
the husky youngster seemed to put down her own weight in food at one sitting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put-down
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Allowing Alexander-Arnold, a player in his prime at 26 years old, to enter the final months of his contract can only be put down to mismanagement.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
This sneering put-down is even more bizarre than the swipe at Carter’s phantom operatic output.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
The firm had already staked a claim in the Chicago-area grocery market, having put down $1.75 billion in Jewel-Osco parent Albertsons Companies Inc. in 2020.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Allowing Alexander-Arnold, a player in his prime at 26 years old, to enter the final months of his contract can only be put down to mismanagement.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
-
During a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Brazil in November 2023, Messi and Rodrygo exchanged insults.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The jury found that on Aug. 19, after Stanford revoked her access, Mangi logged into the study database and replaced patient medical data with erroneous information and insults about her former supervisor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Since then, Starmer has kept a tight lid on any criticism of the president from within his ranks.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The chairwoman at the time, Cynthia Brumback, departed amid criticism of how the exhibition proceeded despite having received FBI queries into their provenance as early as July 2021.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Coach Joe Wyatt, formerly an El Camino Real head coach, was dismissed by the Royals in 2022.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Starmer also dismissed calls to cancel a royal invitation from King Charles to the U.S. President for a U.K. state visit, an offer presented by the British leader at the Oval Office Thursday.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The 2019 second-round pick out of Ole Miss has recorded at least 900 receiving yards in each of his seasons with the Seahawks.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Audio captured by air traffic control recorded someone on the plane reporting before the crash that a door was open, and asking to land at the airport.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Videos from Wednesday evening showed police entering the building wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and later clearing and detaining protesters and others from the lawn outside the building.—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Actress Jurnee Smollett may be entering a new legal battle with her ex-husband, musician Josiah Bell.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Hearing that others experienced the same symptom for a period helped quell her frenzy.—
Erin Jensen,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2025
-
To further soothe and calm the eye area, ginger and Centella Asiatica (known as cica) help quell inflammation.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
A lot of the recent success can be attributed to that reality check in Newark, N.J., on Feb. 15.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2025
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The contributing factors in Arakawa’s death were attributed to rodents.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Eating it: Some folks spoon directly into their mouths.—
Ann Maloney,
NOLA.com,
19 July 2017
-
New this year to True Nature is a retreat for those with eating disorders and their family members.—
Plain Dealer guest writer,
cleveland.com,
19 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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