running down

verb

Definition of running downnext
present participle of run down
1
as in finding
to come upon after searching, study, or effort finally ran down the answer after hours of research

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of constantly running down the city's cultural life won't do anything to improve it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for running down
  1. dismissing
  2. learning
  3. minimizing
  4. discovering
  5. diminishing
  6. locating
Verb
  • The issue of whether and how to change the Supreme Court is deeply polarizing along partisan lines, with many Democrats demanding change in recent years and most Republicans dismissing those demands as efforts to stop the court's shift to the right.
    Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024
  • In late November, the team fired general manager Joe Douglas, just six weeks after dismissing head coach Robert Saleh.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence, and insatiable curiosity, send him on an unexpected journey learning how to die happily and ridiculously without losing his sense of humor.
    Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
  • His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence and insatiable curiosity, send him on an unexpected journey learning how to die happily and ridiculously without losing his sense of humor.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of learning
Verb
  • In addition to minimizing the effects of UV damage, this serum also features pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract—both of which help to dissolve dead skin cells, thus reducing the appearance of pores, acne, and overall dullness.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Unlike traditional sprinklers, this system releases a fine mist of water droplets designed to extinguish flames while minimizing damage to the fragile wood and stone.
    Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of minimizing
Verb
  • For instance, imagine discovering that a distant relative holds political views that clash with your own.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Based on a true story, the film follows a father who, in discovering that his daughter Dhukia is showing the early symptoms of leprosy, must make a devastating choice.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of discovering
Verb
  • Climate change exacerbates the threats with rising temperatures disrupting migration patterns and diminishing the availability of milkweed, the monarch caterpillar's essential food source.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Some experts are wary that a new administration that is less focused on renewable energy could thwart some of solar’s growth by diminishing the IRA tax credits or imposing tariffs that could increase the cost of building solar panels.
    Sarah Sax, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of diminishing
Verb
  • The remains rested there until 2015, when the Department of Defense — using DNA to do what was once inconceivable — began painstakingly identifying them and locating next of kin, many of whom had since moved and died.
    Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
  • By locating manufacturing facilities closer to their end markets, companies are also able to reduce transportation costs and delivery times.
    Richard Mack, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of locating
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near running down

running dogs

running down

running hand

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Running down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/running%20down. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on running down

Nglish: Translation of running down for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...