dressing-down 1 of 2

dressing down

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dress down

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dressing-down
Noun
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember. Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 So, while O’Neil will be in constant dialogue with Mosquera about ensuring his actions do not cross a line and disadvantage his team, there are no plans for a dressing-down over Saturday nor moves to curb his fiery streak too much. Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024 Donald Trump’s dressing-down of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House was a lightning strike to the transatlantic alliance, dispelling lingering illusions in Europe about whether their American cousin will stand with them to counter Russian aggression. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025 Victoria expects that Tim — her confident, successful, morally upright husband — will give this phony guru a good dressing-down. Noel Murray, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Kyiv have risen to a boiling point, culminating in a spectacular public dressing-down of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy last Friday by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025 Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember. Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 So, while O’Neil will be in constant dialogue with Mosquera about ensuring his actions do not cross a line and disadvantage his team, there are no plans for a dressing-down over Saturday nor moves to curb his fiery streak too much. Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024 The Indian Foreign Ministry immediately summoned German and U.S. diplomats for a dressing-down in New Delhi. Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing-down
Noun
  • Graphic photos aside, and with the Menendez brothers attending virtually, Friday’s court hearing already saw the DA at the end of a judicial scolding.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The meeting had been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding.
    Brian Melley and Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • At one point during five days of questioning, Miller received a lecture from Richard T. Bretzing, who ran the FBI’s L.A. office and was a bishop in the Mormon Church.
    Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • With sample disasters like this one in mind, Fielder heads to the Aviation Technology Complex for a lecture that John Goglia is giving to students about his experience at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The older activists provided a bit of tactical advice about dealing with a more powerful opponent—a lesson that Sheinbaum seems to have retained.
    Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Republicans will either learn that lesson now or at the ballot box.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Never underestimate the combined powers of a Liv Benson talking-to and a New York slice.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Roberts pulled the reliever in, gave him what seemed like a fatherly talking-to, and – after Ramirez got out of the inning with the very next pitch – noted that sometimes the best course is not to yell and scream at a player.
    Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 30 May 2024
Noun
  • The solution lies in addressing our housing shortage, not punishment.
    David Bonaccorsi, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In cases of employment, housing, and public accommodation, by simply using one’s freedom of speech to utter a biologically factual pronoun, a person could find him or herself in the crosshairs of a Colorado Civil Rights Division investigation and punishment or possibly a lawsuit.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Sometimes the best thing to do to your lashes is nothing at all.
    Celeste Polanco, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The mascara is designed with a flexible brush that bends to extend your lashes, and it’s formulated with bamboo extract and other ingredients that volumize and hydrate your lashes.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • People familiar with West Coast rap and culture, especially from the Bay Area, have a different, more specific understanding of bippin that has a deep history.
    Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Pizzas are named after rap and soul songs by Philadelphia artists, with a QR code to a playlist.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While most have become accustomed and perhaps even oblivious to McGregor’s online rants, openly criticizing a business partner is a little dicey.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Shiney-Ajay said Harris should have spent additional time criticizing lawmakers—like Manchin and Congressional Republicans—who limited the administration's climate goals, using it as a chance to emphasize her intent to seek greater climate victories in the future.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Dressing-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing-down. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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