as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
a company that prefers to talk up its own products rather than talk down those of its competitors
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Recent Examples of talking down
Forever captures the rush and confusion of first love without talking down to its audience.
—
Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
Never met someone successful ever talking down to someone online.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Worldfor never talking down to me or being too afraid to address the hard things in life.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
Boys Go to Jupiter captures an adolescent malaise without talking down to its teens — there is no preaching about real jobs, responsibilities, or five-year plans.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
Never met someone successful ever talking down to someone online.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Worldfor never talking down to me or being too afraid to address the hard things in life.
—Anna Earl, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
Boys Go to Jupiter captures an adolescent malaise without talking down to its teens — there is no preaching about real jobs, responsibilities, or five-year plans.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down
Verb
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If addiction ends in reconnection, as Kennedy says, then dismissing interventions that create stability, trust, and continuity in people’s lives is counterproductive.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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But the designer explained in his letter that the seasonal campaign is more focused on the theme of dependency and the support of a community, dismissing self sufficiency.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Parchment paper is an essential kitchen tool, helping cooks and bakers prepare flawless dishes while minimizing cleanup.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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The innovative idea also focuses on reducing operational costs, minimizing the requirement for buying expensive land to build data centers.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Several reservoirs, including Loch Lomond, the main water supply for the city of Santa Cruz, and Lake Cachuma, the largest reservoir in Santa Barbara County, were 100% full on Wednesday, with water running down their spillways.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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The Patriots bounced back immediately and showed some life after a streaker interrupted the game by running down the field and avoiding security guards.—
Doug Kyed,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her authority has been challenged in several high-profile cases, diminishing hopes in both progressive and populist MAGA circles for tough antitrust enforcement.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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The tiredness of the players has a diminishing effect on the level of spectacle and the games and goals become unmemorable.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not playing down the stretch was a function of stiffness.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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Instead of taking a low profile and playing down any claims to Taiwan’s independent status like his more cautious DPP predecessor Tsai Ying-wen, Lai has lurched toward formal independence with a succession of speeches making the case for Taiwanese nationhood.—
Lyle Goldstein,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead of writing off the cost of certain assets over several years, businesses can generally deduct the full cost upfront, within limits.—
Forbes Money Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Also since the press conference, some doctors have begun writing off-label prescriptions for autistic children, against the advice of medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Talking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking%20down. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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