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
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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
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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
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
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
When Marilyn Walker was a little girl, her grandmother introduced her to sarcasm through genteel put-downs that sounded sweet but weren’t.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
10 Mar. 2026
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
30 June 2026
Firefighters were seen cutting holes into the roof of the home, adjacent to Sierramont Middle School, to help put down the fire.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
Sadly, that period ended with the closure of newspapers, the violent put-down of protests and the arrest of more than a thousand along with many deaths.
—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
When Marilyn Walker was a little girl, her grandmother introduced her to sarcasm through genteel put-downs that sounded sweet but weren’t.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
LaLiga has been instrumental in boosting the development of African soccer, establishing itself as the first European league to put down roots on the continent just over 10 years ago.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
30 June 2026
Firefighters were seen cutting holes into the roof of the home, adjacent to Sierramont Middle School, to help put down the fire.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
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According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
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Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
Noun
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The legislation faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, and thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets to protest the law.
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Asked about the greenwashing criticism, a Council spokesperson said companies active in the fossil fuel sector can still contribute to the transition, for example by developing low-carbon fuels or building electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Verb
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In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
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Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
Verb
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In France, more than 1,000 excess deaths were recorded during the heat spell, according to the country’s national public health agency.
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The person recording the incident briefly turned the camera away after the blast.
Verb
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As luxury travel continues shifting toward experiences that prioritize authenticity over excess, wine country may be entering a new era—one where the bottle remains the starting point, but no longer the entire story.
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King concluded that Saulter was in a conspiracy to get King removed from office, and directed Arriola to view recordings of other cameras in the office to determine who was entering the offices of Saulter and Goodloe.
Verb
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The security adjustments aren’t expected to quell Mexico’s World Cup fever.
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The people ended up burning down the house of one of the tax collectors, prompting President George Washington to raise the first federal army against them and quickly quell the revolt.
Verb
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The utility attributed the higher costs to broader market dynamics, including more expensive wholesale electricity and growing demand from large users such as manufacturers and data centers across PJM’s 13-state grid.
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Spending on Medi-Cal has more than doubled over the last 10 years, which the LAO attributes to an increase in costs per enrollee, more enrollees and a greater share of seniors seeking care, among other factors.
Verb
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Don't forget to check the social media accounts of your local favorite eating spots for more deals.
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Many kinds of fly larvae eat dead or decaying tissue and may sometimes end up on meat, but New World screwworm larvae need living tissue to survive and develop.
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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