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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Lombardi put down $260,000 on his $1.3 million townhouse in February 2020, expecting to settle in with his partner and newborn twins within three months.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
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
There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
Buying a Chicago bungalow meant a family was moving into the middle class and putting down roots.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Lombardi put down $260,000 on his $1.3 million townhouse in February 2020, expecting to settle in with his partner and newborn twins within three months.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
-
The previous time Lilian had seen Imelda, who was sitting next to her in London, was ten years earlier, when her children were alive, but with some people mindless small talk would be an insult.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
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That’s because Trump’s approach isn’t just an insult to Zelensky but to Ukraine itself and its institution of national leadership.—
Illia Ponomarenko,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Then came subsequent criticism about her selection for the 2024 Women’s Olympic team – especially considering Caitlin Clark’s absence – followed by her Las Vegas Aces’ loss in the 2024 WNBA Finals.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
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There have been many waves of criticism, pointing out the impossibility of carrying out the test in a precise or useful way.—
Jaron Lanier,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump also dismissed several days of volatility in the stock market – and ensuing concerns that a recession will rock the U.S. this year.—
Marina Pitofsky,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Live Nation’s initial arguments to dismiss the case took place on January 22, two days after Donald Trump’s inauguration and before his DoJ had fully taken shape.—
Justin Curto,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Central Americans then recorded a shock win over Berhalter’s side at the Copa America last summer.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
-
The Austin, Texas, native recorded a career-high five interceptions and 11 passes defended during his senior season which earned him Consensus First-Team All-American honors.—
Kambui Bomani,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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On the first visit, Jones took photos from inside the building of the window that the thieves used to enter the palace.—
Francesca Aton,
ARTnews.com,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Around noon on Tuesday, protesters dodged vehicles entering and exiting the business park just off the 91 Freeway.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But that didn't quell a web of alternative theories over the decades.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Authorities placed a ban on public demonstrations for four days in an attempt to quell any growing backlash to the arrests.—
Chris Massaro,
Fox News,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Although the opioid epidemic in America has posed a real and significant public health threat resulting in at least 645,000 deaths since the epidemic began, major progress has been made with significantly less deaths directly attributed to fentanyl.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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The report would reveal the percentages of rates attributed to reinsurance, claims costs, defense and containment costs, fees and commissions, profit and contingency and any other factor deemed necessary by regulators.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Miami was last in the NFL at 57 plays per game last season partly because the offense didn’t convert effectively on third downs, but also because the porous run defense allowed opponents to eat up the clock.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun-Sentinel.com,
19 July 2017
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The casual restaurant and bar also offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. Sundays.—
Vickie Snow Jurkowski,
Daily Southtown,
19 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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