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
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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
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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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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of put-down
Caroline Frost, Deadline, 23 June 2024
Who knows how her shtick will go down the second season, but one thing is certain: Her quips and put-downs against the rest of the cast will surely be entertaining.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Jan. 2024
Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
This means putting down your phone and really engaging with your kids.
—Katherine Lewis, Parents, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put-down 
Noun
Jerry Seinfeld is working through his range of heckler put-downs after he was interrupted once more during his stand-up show in Australia on Saturday evening.
—Verb
Wealthy tech titans who have put down roots in the city — and see San Francisco as an international hub for high tech — poured millions of dollars into campaign contributions, pressing for an outcome that would infuse this famously liberal city with more centrist politics.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
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World & Nation Canadian officials blast Trump’s tariff threat, and one calls Mexico comparison an insult Nov. 26, 2024 The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian frontier between October 2023 and September 2024.Rob Gillies and Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024
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But there’s only so much that Kai Trump can do to soften the image of a man who has been compared by critics to history’s most dangerous fascists and who regularly hurls insults and makes profane remarks.Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Northwest Indiana congressman, the frontrunner in Indiana’s open U.S. Senate race, declined invitations from the Debate Commission, which has drawn criticism from his opponents.Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Nov. 2024
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As the conflict in Gaza has dragged on, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism internationally and domestically for what critics say is his prioritization of keeping together his fractious hard-right and religious coalition government — and his job — over a ceasefire deal.David Hodari, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2024
Verb
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One of the other Seahawks playing against his former team Sunday was Smith, who like Williams dismissed the notion of this being a revenge game.Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024
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Journalists and prosecutors have suggested Trump could order the Justice Department to dismiss the federal corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams or pardon him if he’s convicted.Sara Dorn, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On the defensive end, Hunter recorded a 90.9 coverage grade, which is third among all corners in the county compared to PFF.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Starting in October, millions of people across northern India and Pakistan spent weeks under a blanket of toxic smog, enduring some of the region’s worst air quality ever recorded.Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Questions were raised about whether Vanney, who was entering the final year of his contract, was still the right man for the job.Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
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On May 1, 2023, Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old mentally ill homeless man, entered the Manhattan F train and began yelling at other riders.Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In June 2020, Willis demanded that Trump stop using Village People's music after the then-president threatened military action to quell protests following the police killing of George Floyd.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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And in case anyone thinks its suppressions are the stuff of the past, the emergence of far-right leaders around the Western world in the past few years quickly quells the fantasy.Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Many sociologists attribute the ever-plunging birth rates to Japan’s unforgiving work culture and rising costs of living.Chris Lau, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
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Electric Vehicle Improvements The improvement can be attributed to the maturation of electric and plug-in hybrid technology, according to Jake Fisher, head of Consumer Reports' automotive test center.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Eating it: Some folks spoon directly into their mouths.Ann Maloney, NOLA.com, 19 July 2017
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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
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 12 Dec. 2024.
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