put-down 1 of 2

noun

ˈpu̇t-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce put-down (audio)
Definition of put-downnext
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

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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

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put down

2 of 2

verb

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

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2
as in to record
to make a written note of we had the whole agreement put down on paper

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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

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4
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force a tyrant who ruthlessly put down uprisings

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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

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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

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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
Noun
Sadly, that period ended with the closure of newspapers, the violent put-down of protests and the arrest of more than a thousand along with many deaths. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 2026 When Marilyn Walker was a little girl, her grandmother introduced her to sarcasm through genteel put-downs that sounded sweet but weren’t. — Angela Haupt, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
The next day on Tuesday, June 30, workers were seen putting down red carpet at Madison Square Garden, per a video posted by Deuxmoi. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 In attempting to put down the Whiskey Rebellion — a violent protest over a whiskey tax — Washington made it as far as Bedford, which was developing into a frontier community. — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for put-down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for put-down
  1. insult
  2. criticism
  3. dismiss
  4. record
  5. enter
  6. quell
  7. attribute
  8. eat
Noun
  • According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • The legislation faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, and thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets to protest the law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Asked about the greenwashing criticism, a Council spokesperson said companies active in the fossil fuel sector can still contribute to the transition, for example by developing low-carbon fuels or building electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
    — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of criticism
Verb
  • In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • In France, more than 1,000 excess deaths were recorded during the heat spell, according to the country’s national public health agency.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The person recording the incident briefly turned the camera away after the blast.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of record
Verb
  • As luxury travel continues shifting toward experiences that prioritize authenticity over excess, wine country may be entering a new era—one where the bottle remains the starting point, but no longer the entire story.
    — Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • King concluded that Saulter was in a conspiracy to get King removed from office, and directed Arriola to view recordings of other cameras in the office to determine who was entering the offices of Saulter and Goodloe.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of enter
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
  • Later, in his post-match press conference, Pochettino attributed the team’s subpar performance to a bad day rather than external distractions about the Balogun red card.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 15 deaths and 13,000 injuries in the United States attributed to either the misuse of or malfunctions with fireworks.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of attribute
Verb
  • Don't forget to check the social media accounts of your local favorite eating spots for more deals.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Many kinds of fly larvae eat dead or decaying tissue and may sometimes end up on meat, but New World screwworm larvae need living tissue to survive and develop.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of eat

Browse Nearby Words

put by
put-down
put down
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Cite this Entry

“Put-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/put-down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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