talk down

verb

talked down; talking down; talks down

intransitive verb

: to speak in a condescending or oversimplified fashion

transitive verb

: to disparage or belittle by talking

Examples of talk down in a Sentence

a company that prefers to talk up its own products rather than talk down those of its competitors
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.
Status items such as $250 shoes are talked down to the $50 model, but an $800 bed for better sleep could be approved, Schuchert said. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025 His willingness to confront these issues head-on has won him credibility among voters who feel neglected or talked down to by political elites. David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 If your partner takes a patronizing tone or talks down to you, even while making a reasonable request, take note, Jackson said. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025 The customer service rep who talks down the angry client. Ryan Wong, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for talk down

Word History

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of talk down was in 1642

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Talk down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talk%20down. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

talk down

verb
: to speak in an overly simple manner as if to a person who does not know much
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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