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 dog was taken to a vet and put down on the same day.

From BBC

Historians say the colonial administrators put down any rebellions and often burnt Naga villages to subdue them, in the process erasing much of their important cultural markers such as paintings, engravings and artefacts.

From BBC

A mental health nurse who said "I would’ve drowned her at birth" and "take her to the vets and get her put down" about vulnerable patients has been struck off.

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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