Standard Lemma guide

put-down

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈpʊtˌdaʊn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

An insult or barb; a snide or demeaning remark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • When he called you a know-it-all, he meant it as a put-down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a crushing remark

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: squelch, squelcher, takedown

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: derision

History

Etymology

Deverbal from put down.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Erniedrigung — insult or barb
  • German: Herabsetzung — insult or barb
  • Hebrew: יְרִידָה (y'ridá) — insult or barb
  • Māori: tīkai — insult or barb
  • Māori: himumaru — insult or barb
  • Polish: afront — insult or barb
  • Polish: obelga — insult or barb
  • Russian: нае́зд (najézd) — insult or barb
  • Russian: колкость (kolkostʹ) — insult or barb
  • Russian: шпи́лька (špílʹka) — insult or barb