as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
I was called down by my supervisor for not catching the accounting error sooner
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Recent Examples of call down
The producers call down to WBZ's Steve Burton, who's working as tonight's sideline reporter.
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Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2024
The pilot would locate an enemy position and mark it with small smoke bombs; an artillery spotter could then call down a barrage on the marked location.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
A number of companies are vying to win the business of apartment community companies interested in providing their residents with amenities that might best be called down to earth.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
If the alarm rang outside business hours, someone would need to call down a list of seismologists until someone agreed to come in.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024
Dennis called down to a Detroit police officer on the street.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
There were other questionable calls down the stretch in that one.
—Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The last-two minute report from Monday’s 128-125 loss to Charlotte revealed 10 missed calls down the stretch, per the NBA.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2024
As the police amassed, a young person of about 20, bundled in warm clothing and locked to an excavator, called down to the crowd.
—Katie Myers, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2024
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2024
The pilot would locate an enemy position and mark it with small smoke bombs; an artillery spotter could then call down a barrage on the marked location.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
A number of companies are vying to win the business of apartment community companies interested in providing their residents with amenities that might best be called down to earth.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
If the alarm rang outside business hours, someone would need to call down a list of seismologists until someone agreed to come in.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024
Dennis called down to a Detroit police officer on the street.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
There were other questionable calls down the stretch in that one.
—Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The last-two minute report from Monday’s 128-125 loss to Charlotte revealed 10 missed calls down the stretch, per the NBA.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2024
As the police amassed, a young person of about 20, bundled in warm clothing and locked to an excavator, called down to the crowd.
—Katie Myers, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call down
Verb
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Critics at the time said those changes hurt trans athletes, but Hawley and Kennedy scolded Baker this week that no trans women should be allowed in women’s sports at all — a position that’s become a major part of the GOP agenda over the past several years.Samantha Riedel, Them, 20 Dec. 2024
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Chalamet, who played Laurie opposite Ronan's Jo in the 2019 adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott literary classic, recalled his friend and acting colleague scolding him on set for being late to hair and makeup.Nick Romano, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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No one had ever lectured on such a thing, as far as anyone could recall.Tania Roettger, The Dial, 5 Dec. 2024
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She’s also lectured on the History of Costume in Chicago, and served as an Assistant Costume Curator at the Wellesley Historical Society.thehustle.co, thehustle.co, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The 49ers wasted no time in reprimanding Campbell for his action.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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Faced with claims of enabling fentanyl supply, officials from both China and Mexico have reprimanded the U.S. for enabling the drug’s demand.Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The regime blamed the economic collapse on sanctions, the price Syria had to pay for standing up to foreign powers.Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
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The incoming Trump administration blamed migrant crime on changes in immigration policy under President Joe Biden — citing it as a key reason for Trump’s mass deportation program.Kristine Frazao, Baltimore Sun, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Bo French, the chairman of the Tarrant County, Texas, GOP, criticized Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, alleging that an emphasis on DEI programs had undermined the military's effectiveness.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Disney filed a First Amendment lawsuit the following year, arguing that DeSantis and state Republicans had waged a concerted campaign to punish Disney for exercising its speech rights to criticize Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Her father, meanwhile, dressed down for the occasion and wore a Terrifier T-shirt, a black cap and gray jeans.Raven Brunner, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024
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Some of these folks even dressed down–this ideal works well too especially since sneakers and dresses are so of-the-moment.Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 2 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near call down
Cite this Entry
“Call down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20down. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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