put-down

or put·down

[ poot-doun ]

noun

1. a landing of an aircraft.
2. Informal.
   1. a disparaging, belittling, or snubbing remark.
   2. a remark or act intended to humiliate or embarrass someone.

put down

verb

1. to make a written record of
2. to repress

   to put down a rebellion

3. to consider; account

   they put him down for an ignoramus

4. to attribute

   I put the mistake down to his inexperience

5. to put to death, because of old age or illness

   the vet put the cat down

6. to table on the agenda

   the MPs put down a motion on the increase in crime

7. to put (a baby) to bed
8. to dismiss, reject, or humiliate

noun

1. a cruelly crushing remark

Word History and Origins

Origin of put-down¹

First recorded in 1960–65; noun use of verb phrase put down

Example Sentences

The force said the dog had since been put down under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991.

From BBC

During his first term, Trump wanted to use the military to put down the nationwide protests of 2020 that erupted in response to the police murder of George Floyd.

From Salon

The tech industry has become increasingly involved in Bay Area politics as more executives and their workers put down roots.

From Los Angeles Times

It was Bouchier who put down three of England's five dropped catches in the T20 World Cup defeat by West Indies.

From BBC

Tech titans who have put down roots in the city poured millions of dollars into campaign contributions, pressing for an outcome that would infuse this famously liberal city with more centrist politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crush
• quash
• quell
• repress
• stamp out
• suppress