call down

verb

Definition of call downnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 call down Even the New York State Police had been called down to join, and were standing around in their purple ties and Dudley Do-Right hats. — Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026 After leaving the field at the end of the third, Fried walked into the tunnel leading to the visitors’ clubhouse, flanked by pitching coach Matt Blake, who immediately called down to the bullpen to have Paul Blackburn warm up. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 13 May 2026 Derpetrossian was working with a hot shot crew with the Angeles National Forest when he got called down to help fight fires that were popping up around Los Angeles while the Palisades Fire wreaked havoc on the city’s Westside. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026 At another point, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman called down to Earth to NASA’s IT specialists on the ground to report that both versions of Microsoft’s email program Outlook installed on his computer were not working. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for call down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call down
  1. scold
  2. lecture
  3. reprimand
  4. blame
  5. criticize
Verb
  • Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Justice Barrett actually sounded kind of sharp, almost scolding, in the opinion in her criticism of the assertions made by the plaintiffs and some of the justices in the minority.
    — John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 1 July 2026
Definition of scold
Verb
  • Some commentators in the United States have taken the opportunity to lecture Europeans, and perhaps even indulge in a little schadenfreude.
    — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • The work, then, is not to lecture communities into trusting us.
    — Tyler Evans, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of lecture
Verb
  • Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Wimbledon fashion is also something that can get patrons in trouble, with Andy Samberg saying he was reprimanded for wearing black jeans in the Royal Box.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of reprimand
Verb
  • Autopsies and other investigations will be needed before the deaths are officially blamed on the heat, Washington said.
    — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Most of the others have been blamed on natural causes or suicide.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 6 July 2026
Definition of blame
Verb
  • For all her talk of women as allies, Siebel Newsom portrays conservative women who criticize other women as dupes manipulated by MAGA leaders.
    — Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Last month, his ally Uthmeier declined to criticize the state party’s decision to limit the debate.
    — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of criticize

Browse Nearby Words

callbacks
call down
called
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Cite this Entry

“Call down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on call down

Nglish: Translation of call down for Spanish Speakers

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