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
Example 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
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Allowing Alexander-Arnold, a player in his prime at 26 years old, to enter the final months of his contract can only be put down to mismanagement.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Noun
This sneering put-down is even more bizarre than the swipe at Carter’s phantom operatic output.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
There is no end of put-downs that attach to the job of vice president, a position that’s widely treated as irrelevant when its occupant is not ignored altogether.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
The firm had already staked a claim in the Chicago-area grocery market, having put down $1.75 billion in Jewel-Osco parent Albertsons Companies Inc. in 2020.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Allowing Alexander-Arnold, a player in his prime at 26 years old, to enter the final months of his contract can only be put down to mismanagement.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
Noun
-
During a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Brazil in November 2023, Messi and Rodrygo exchanged insults.—
Felipe Cardenas,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The jury found that on Aug. 19, after Stanford revoked her access, Mangi logged into the study database and replaced patient medical data with erroneous information and insults about her former supervisor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Since then, Starmer has kept a tight lid on any criticism of the president from within his ranks.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The chairwoman at the time, Cynthia Brumback, departed amid criticism of how the exhibition proceeded despite having received FBI queries into their provenance as early as July 2021.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Coach Joe Wyatt, formerly an El Camino Real head coach, was dismissed by the Royals in 2022.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Starmer also dismissed calls to cancel a royal invitation from King Charles to the U.S. President for a U.K. state visit, an offer presented by the British leader at the Oval Office Thursday.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The latest disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began on Jan. 21, and 419 cases have been recorded, including 53 deaths.—
Jean-Yves Kamale,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Last season, the New Jersey native recorded 119 tackles, 5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles, leading the Crimson Tide in all categories.—
David Ubben,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Researchers have discovered a virus that can enter human cells in a similar way to the virus that causes COVID-19.—
Katherine Hignett,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Avera Mengistu, 38 Mengistu had been held in Gaza since entering on his own in 2014.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The state has scrambled to quell the labor dispute.—
Jay Root,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Colloidal oatmeal helps quell any requisite inflammation, while tranexamic acid works to fade spots.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The crypto research group Arkham Intelligence is attributing the theft to the North Korean hacking group known as the Lazarus Group.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
-
The shift from high-maintenance colors to simple cuts and styles can largely be attributed to the high value placed on hair health in recent years.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share