dumb down

verb

dumbed down; dumbing down; dumbs down

transitive verb

: to lower the level of difficulty and the intellectual content of (something, such as a textbook)
also : to lower the general level of intelligence in
the dumbing down of society

Examples of dumb down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The president-elect tends to avoid details—during his first term, aides learned to dumb down their presentations with bullet points. Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Where there other ideas about how to dumb down Sage? Jordan Moreau, Variety, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dumb down was in 1933

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dumb down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumb%20down. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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