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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of put-down
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
This sneering put-down is even more bizarre than the swipe at Carter’s phantom operatic output.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Stand Up to Cancer’s fundraising benefit show is putting down roots in Nashville for one night only.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
Future Saturday Night Live alum and Y2K director Kyle Mooney briefly donned the role popularized by world-class dramatic talent to echo and underline Holmes’s withering put-downs.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
This sneering put-down is even more bizarre than the swipe at Carter’s phantom operatic output.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
When Elgin Charles talks about the future of hairstyling, his voice carries the weight of four decades behind the chair — and the vision to ensure the craft thrives long after he’s put down his shears.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Stand Up to Cancer’s fundraising benefit show is putting down roots in Nashville for one night only.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
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Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
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According to a cell phone video, obtained through CAIR, the man shouted several Islamophobic insults, including insults attacking Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With this deal, the UFC has put itself in a position to quiet some of those criticisms.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Two weeks after first pointing a firehose of blistering criticism at the Donald Trump administration, South Park is still going full bore against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Boston Magazine reported that during her training she was ultimately dismissed for administering opiates without a doctor’s order and leaving her shift early.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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At Hall's request, the case was dismissed without prejudice.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Researchers recorded 19 species living around the rig in shallower waters of up to 16 feet, while a higher volume of fish were found between depths of 65 and 130 feet, according to the study.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
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Similar encounters, recorded on video, have occurred in other cities throughout 2025.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Gunn’s rule at the new DC Studios is that no movie will move forward into the pre-production and production processes until the screenplay is finished, unlike Marvel Studios where movies often enter production with the script still taking shape.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
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Even with a franchise-best payroll of $187 million entering this year, one that placed 13th of 30 MLB teams, the Diamondbacks fall well short of a Padres payroll that now stands at $213 million and eighth in baseball, per Fangraphs.com.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The system is expected to hook around a large plume of African dust that has been quelling hurricane development for the past several weeks, Fox Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross wrote on his blog, Hurricane Intel.—
David Schutz,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2025
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America’s military establishment tried to quell the outrage with a piece in Harper’s by Henry Stimson, a retired Secretary of War.—
Jane Mayer,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Key Facts Health departments in several states are warning residents about a mysterious and unusual rise in the bacteria after dozens of cases were confirmed across 11 states and at least nine deaths were attributed to an infection, with a tenth attributed to another vibrio species.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Along with deaths directly related to the wildfire, the researchers counted deaths partially and indirectly attributed to the wildfires.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This spot for soccer fans offers lots of pub fare to eat and drink.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2025
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The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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