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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of put-down
Amy Morin, Parents, 25 July 2024
Do not hurt anyone’s body (no hitting, pushing, or kicking).
Do not hurt anyone’s feelings (no yelling, put-downs, or name-calling).
—Amy Morin, Parents, 3 July 2024
Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Every week, seemingly, the Huskers are putting down stronger roots in Kansas City.
—Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put-down 
Noun
Verbal abuse Verbal put-downs from a coach—said in front of others or done privately—are a clear form of verbal abuse..
—Amy Morin, Parents, 25 July 2024
Do not hurt anyone’s body (no hitting, pushing, or kicking).
Do not hurt anyone’s feelings (no yelling, put-downs, or name-calling).
—Amy Morin, Parents, 3 July 2024
Verb
This mystery from the author of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle will be hard to put down.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Every week, seemingly, the Huskers are putting down stronger roots in Kansas City.
—Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
-
This is a dangerous conflation and an insult to women who choose to cook.—
Mina Holland,
Vogue,
11 Jan. 2025
-
This can be through verbal insults, physical acts like slapping and spitting, or openly degrading someone by telling them to perform humiliating tasks (say, drinking a random glass of milk in front of your work colleagues).—
Fran Tirado,
Them,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The criticism is somewhat reminiscent of Texans slamming Sen. Ted Cruz for fleeing to Cancun during a statewide freeze and power loss disaster in 2021.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Jan. 2025
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Meta is removing employee criticism over its hiring of UFC CEO Dana White from an internal company messaging system.—
Makena Kelly,
WIRED,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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More cases are being dismissed — rising from 41% to 61% — because prosecutors cannot meet the technical requirements, burdensome paperwork and deadlines of the new discovery law.—
Eric J. Gertler,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2025
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She was dismissed in June 2024 after a run of seven games without a win.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Top 10 Center Fielders In 2024, only eight pitchers recorded 30 saves — the fewest in a 162-game season since 1988.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
9 Jan. 2025
-
Blumberg is a somewhat shy, 34-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist from London who, for the last two decades, has recorded albums in various bands and as a solo artist, and whose only ostensible throughline is raw emotion and sonic experimentation.—
Tim Greiving,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Jayden Daniels enters the Lions’ den against a Detroit defense that played above its heads against the Vikings.—
Hank Gola,
New York Daily News,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Queen entered Thursday’s game coming off a career-high 27-point effort.—
Jack Vita,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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ByteDance has tried to quell concerns about TikTok by noting 100% of U.S. traffic was routed to Oracle and U.S. Digital Service infrastructure in the United States as of 2022.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
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Hopes of cease-fire and hostage exchange deal first confirmed by the U.S. and Qatar on Wednesday appeared to be quelled by the time Americans were waking up on Thursday morning.—
Caitlin McFall,
Fox News,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Schwartz attributes its smaller crowds and less festive environment not to local lawmakers but to changes in ownership.—
Jonathan M. Pitts,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Jan. 2025
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Israel attributes much of the destruction to Hamas, the militant group that launched the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and abducted 250.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Miami was last in the NFL at 57 plays per game last season partly because the offense didn’t convert effectively on third downs, but also because the porous run defense allowed opponents to eat up the clock.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun-Sentinel.com,
19 July 2017
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The casual restaurant and bar also offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. Sundays.—
Vickie Snow Jurkowski,
Daily Southtown,
19 July 2017
Thesaurus Entries Near put-down
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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