CALLING DOWN Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

calling down

verb

present participle of call down

as in scolding

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings I was called down by my supervisor for not catching the accounting error sooner

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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 calling down This year, the irrigators began calling down water on July 1, boosting flows in the Colorado River. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling down

Verb

From behind a tree, Neil and Florence observed Brenda scolding little Neil.

— S. M. Reznik, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
By the time his daughter shows up, flanked by her mom and upright dentist stepdad, Lee’s moved on from scolding the room to thanking his mother for believing him.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of scolding

Verb

Respondents in England and Australia were more likely to associate teaching with institutional, credentialed and paid professional roles, such as nursing, lecturing and social work.

— Gustavo E. Fischman, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums.

— Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of lecturing

Verb

And there’s a useful distinction between dressing down to make someone else comfortable and being thoughtful about the signals your clothes send.

— Morgan Sullivan, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
Like Bezos, whose Sun Valley uniform has included jeans with T-shirts and polo shirts, many of the male tech executives are dressing down.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 July 2026

Definition of dressing down

Verb

The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the shift, a claim that was bolstered by statements from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth blaming Musk’s SpaceX for any change.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaming

Verb

Pentecostal parents Ruth and Marius were accused of domestic violence, with worldwide protests criticizing what dissenters called harsh and hasty steps taken by Norwegian social workers without proper evidence.

— Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Cofer is criticizing Guerra’s absence from the vote and is asking him to publicly state his position on the partnership.

— Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticizing

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calling

calling down

calling (for)

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“Calling down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20down. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of calling down

verb

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