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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to record
to make a written note of
we had the whole agreement put down on paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples 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 put-down
Amy Morin, Parents, 3 July 2024
Jerry Seinfeld is working through his range of heckler put-downs after he was interrupted once more during his stand-up show in Australia on Saturday evening.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 23 June 2024
Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
Just months ago, HTS’s security apparatus violently put down protests in Idlib demanding the release of detainees held by HTS and an end to Jolani’s rule.
—Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put-down 
Noun
Do not hurt anyone’s body (no hitting, pushing, or kicking).
Do not hurt anyone’s feelings (no yelling, put-downs, or name-calling).
—Amy Morin, Parents, 3 July 2024
Jerry Seinfeld is working through his range of heckler put-downs after he was interrupted once more during his stand-up show in Australia on Saturday evening.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 23 June 2024
Verb
This bear—who was probably hungry and desperate after waking up mid-hibernation—was eventually put down.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
Just months ago, HTS’s security apparatus violently put down protests in Idlib demanding the release of detainees held by HTS and an end to Jolani’s rule.
—Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
-
The nearly three-hour podcast was a perfect storm of virality: comedy, conspiracy, and searing insult, leaving the internet in tatters.Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
-
Perhaps as a final insult to Carter, Iran released the hostages just minutes after President Ronald Reagan had been sworn in.Justin Doom, ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Israel faces heavy international criticism over the unprecedented levels of civilian deaths in Gaza.Melanie Lidman and Waafa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
-
An initial bipartisan version of the CR pushed by Johnson failed on Wednesday following criticism from Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The judge issued a ruling to nolle the charges against him, meaning they would be dismissed.David R. Cameron, Hartford Courant, 31 Dec. 2024
-
But dismissing these alternatives outright misses the point.Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Any movement on the issue appears unlikely as Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate in January, underscoring the hurdles in imposing restrictions on a separate branch of government even as public confidence in the court has fallen to record lows.Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
-
The Fed’s use of this technique in the pandemic brought mortgages rates to record lows in 2021.Carlos Waters, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Paul had previously entered a plea deal in May after his March arrest for cocaine and marijuana possession.Marina Watts, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
-
The Lakers are in a tough position regarding whether to go all in on a win-now move or hold out as LeBron James enters the final years of his career.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The incident made national headlines, but did little to quell tensions in Portland.Kale Williams, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
-
Feds try to tamp down worries about drone sightings Federal authorities sought to quell concerns about drone sightings in New Jersey and other states, as President-elect Donald Trump spoke out and lawmakers proposed the deployment of drone-tracking devices.Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
What Explains the Productivity Gap The productivity gap can be partially attributed to the nature of work undertaken by small and large businesses.Kweilin Ellingrud, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
-
Shortly after her arrest, Huger attributed the accident to grief and her mother’s 2017 death.Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Miami was last in the NFL at 57 plays per game last season partly because the offense didn’t convert effectively on third downs, but also because the porous run defense allowed opponents to eat up the clock.Chris Perkins, Sun-Sentinel.com, 19 July 2017
-
The casual restaurant and bar also offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. Sundays.Vickie Snow Jurkowski, Daily Southtown, 19 July 2017
Thesaurus Entries Near put-down
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share