as in criticism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 thumbs-down
From thumbs-up to thumbs-downs, here’s how critics are reacting.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
That drew extended cheers while people in the crowd made thumbs-down gestures to signify McCain’s opposition to the GOP effort to repeal it.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024
In late August, Lindor and good friend Javier Baez, whom the Mets acquired weeks earlier from the Chicago Cubs, began flashing a thumbs-down sign upon getting base hits in response to fans who booed the team throughout a disappointing season.
—Jerry Beach, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Is there any gesture in our visual vernacular more visceral than a thumbs-down?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024
Separately, content pages will now have thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons to help personalize the company’s algorithms to your own taste.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 24 Sep. 2024
Pusha has a slick line about the Brittney Griner prisoner swap, and a humorous thumbs-down to D-list reality stars that lands in characteristically callous fashion.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
Here's one: Republican efforts to repeal the landmark Affordable Care Act were vanquished in 2017 when GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, at a suspenseful final moment, gave a thumbs-down vote against his party.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024
Ice cheered, to which a group of fans started booing loudly, waving thumbs-down symbols.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 July 2024
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
That drew extended cheers while people in the crowd made thumbs-down gestures to signify McCain’s opposition to the GOP effort to repeal it.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024
In late August, Lindor and good friend Javier Baez, whom the Mets acquired weeks earlier from the Chicago Cubs, began flashing a thumbs-down sign upon getting base hits in response to fans who booed the team throughout a disappointing season.
—Jerry Beach, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Is there any gesture in our visual vernacular more visceral than a thumbs-down?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024
Separately, content pages will now have thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons to help personalize the company’s algorithms to your own taste.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 24 Sep. 2024
Pusha has a slick line about the Brittney Griner prisoner swap, and a humorous thumbs-down to D-list reality stars that lands in characteristically callous fashion.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
Here's one: Republican efforts to repeal the landmark Affordable Care Act were vanquished in 2017 when GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, at a suspenseful final moment, gave a thumbs-down vote against his party.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024
Ice cheered, to which a group of fans started booing loudly, waving thumbs-down symbols.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbs-down
Noun
-
Finding negative angles about the club seems often to be a sport in itself, particularly among provocative ex-player pundits for whom criticism is currency.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Stone also raised criticisms about McMahon’s knowledge of the role, including hesitation on what existing Trump executive orders mean for local schools.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Republican majority has shown a broad distaste for some of the rules that come with federal funding.—
Adam Tamburin,
Axios,
13 Jan. 2025
-
Nor does a distaste for hand-me-downs explain the difference; the same pattern applies regardless of where a production begins.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
But his latest disapproval rating, 48%, was three percentage points higher than in 2017 — a new high for the pollster.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
9 Feb. 2025
-
Madonna has been clear about her disapproval of Trump over the years.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The men appeared to be in better health than the three hostages released the previous week, whose condition drew condemnation from Israeli officials.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Unfortunately, though, a recently viral video of Jewish celebrities launching just that sort of condemnation against West has been revealed to be unauthorized AI.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This business is so full of rejections, no matter how good the script is.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2025
-
This moment of isolation is a powerful visual cue that no one truly sees or understands her, amplifying her sense of rejection.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The first censure also cited comments Quirk made in the media about the plan to move the rail off the Del Mar bluffs that contradicted the city’s official position.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2025
-
But as part of the censure, the board barred Morris from taking part in deliberations and votes regarding the Hagekhalil investigation.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
But on Tuesday, Ms. Kennedy, 67, unleashed a searing public denunciation of her cousin, delivering a moment that stood out even after the family’s 60 years of public triumphs and tragedies.—
Adam Nagourney,
New York Times,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Hu himself was repeatedly brought to denunciation rallies, where Red Guards would inveigh against him and seek to humiliate him in public.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near thumbs-down
Cite this Entry
“Thumbs-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbs-down. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share