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
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Recent Examples of call down
The producers call down to WBZ's Steve Burton, who's working as tonight's sideline reporter.
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Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2024
The pilot would locate an enemy position and mark it with small smoke bombs; an artillery spotter could then call down a barrage on the marked location.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
A number of companies are vying to win the business of apartment community companies interested in providing their residents with amenities that might best be called down to earth.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
If the alarm rang outside business hours, someone would need to call down a list of seismologists until someone agreed to come in.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024
Dennis called down to a Detroit police officer on the street.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
There were other questionable calls down the stretch in that one.
—Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The last-two minute report from Monday’s 128-125 loss to Charlotte revealed 10 missed calls down the stretch, per the NBA.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2024
As the police amassed, a young person of about 20, bundled in warm clothing and locked to an excavator, called down to the crowd.
—Katie Myers, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2024
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2024
The pilot would locate an enemy position and mark it with small smoke bombs; an artillery spotter could then call down a barrage on the marked location.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
A number of companies are vying to win the business of apartment community companies interested in providing their residents with amenities that might best be called down to earth.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
If the alarm rang outside business hours, someone would need to call down a list of seismologists until someone agreed to come in.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024
Dennis called down to a Detroit police officer on the street.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
There were other questionable calls down the stretch in that one.
—Howard Fendrich, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2024
The last-two minute report from Monday’s 128-125 loss to Charlotte revealed 10 missed calls down the stretch, per the NBA.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2024
As the police amassed, a young person of about 20, bundled in warm clothing and locked to an excavator, called down to the crowd.
—Katie Myers, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call down
Verb
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But after one more chuckle, Julia jumps in and scolds her too.Abigail Adams, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025
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Copied Share Laughter as Putin appears to scold the moderator Keir Simmons Reporting from Moscow Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who is moderating the conference scolded people for asking more than one question, only to be mildly mocked by Putin.NBC News, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Weissmann also lectured at Harvard, Yale and the AFI and taught at USC and Sherwood Oaks Experimental College.Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
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But first, she is scolded, lectured and psychoanalyzed by the prosecutor and judge.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Instead of a letter of concern, the board officially reprimanded Simmons.David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
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Handler told Parade in a Jan. 3 cover story that the Grace and Frankie star reprimanded her for poor behavior at the event.Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And voters’ belief that its beneficiaries are complacent elitists skilled only in symbolic victory can no longer be blamed on brainwashing by right-wing media.Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
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While most economists agree that Biden was not to blame for inflation, the yearslong bout of sharp-rising prices hit Americans hard and, ultimately, cast a thick cloud over Biden’s presidency that carried through to the November election.Alicia Wallace, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And just this week, Pritzker openly criticized Welch after the governor said the speaker did nothing to stop more than one of his members from berating and verbally abusing staff experts from the governor’s administration called in to explain the hemp issues to the Democratic Caucus.The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
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However, many criticized Jones for fighting the aging Miocic and not pivoting to fight Aspinall, a younger and seemingly more dangerous fighter who holds the interim title.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Elevate baggy jeans or dress down a dress with this effortless style.Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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This cropped style, below, is a no-brainer in any winter wardrobe rotation, whether worn dressed down with a baggy blue jean and preppy penny loafer or up with a dazzling party dress and strappy heeled sandal.Laura Jackson, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Call down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20down. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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