SLAP DOWN Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

slap down

verb

Definition of slap down

as in to quell

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force public protests against the dictatorial government were always promptly slapped down

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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 slap down The majority also slapped down his global tariffs, finding that only Congress had the authority to impose them. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 In February, three of them—including, much to Trump’s fury, two of his own appointees—joined with the liberals to slap down his assertion of emergency power to impose tariffs. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 26 June 2026 The production runs for 2026 and 2027 are sold out, but future flyers can jump in the queue for the 2028 build now by slapping down a deposit of US$8,000. — New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025 The White House argued that a national security law dating back to the 1970s—the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—gives the President the authority to declare an emergency and slap down tariffs on his own. — Philip Wang, Time, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slap down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down

Verb

The security adjustments aren’t expected to quell Mexico’s World Cup fever.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
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.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of quell

Verb

Record-setting heat is suspected in 25 deaths from the Deep South to the Midwest to the East Coast, authorities said, with the temperature highs also suppressing some Fourth of July celebrations.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 July 2026
When coated onto a polypropylene separator with graphene, the material formed a thin interfacial layer that readily absorbed electrolyte while suppressing polysulfide migration.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026

Definition of suppress

Verb

Cops on foot chased the teen down, using a Taser to subdue him near Rogers Ave.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
For all the bombast surrounding the official proceedings, beginning with the UFC fight at the White House, elsewhere the mood has seemed subdued.

— Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

Definition of subdue

Verb

But Field, whose perpetual restlessness had driven his climb to business success, wasn’t suited to sit on the sidelines.

— Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026
Another capability comes from processing unstructured information, since companies already sit on enormous amounts of customer feedback, reviews, research, operational data and industry commentary, but historically, going through all of it manually took far too much time.

— Yuri Gubin, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of sit on

Verb

Years of crippling sanctions have paralysed the economy as accelerating bouts of mass nationwide protests have been put down by security forces with increasing force — culminating in the killing of thousands of demonstrators in January.

— Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
As word of the violence at the Record spread, Black workers around the city put down their tools and ran home, many of them to the Brooklyn neighborhood.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026

Definition of put down

Browse Nearby Words

slapdash

slap down

slaphappy

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

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Synonyms of slap down

verb

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