as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
public protests against the dictatorial government were always promptly slapped down
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Recent Examples of slap down
That number was tallied after a federal judge in Massachusetts slapped down a lawsuit brought by unions challenging the program.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen slapped down Trump's fixation on Greenland last month.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
Council plans Hammersmith and Fulham, the local council where the trial is happening, has previously slapped down bike sharing companies for cluttering up streets, but Lime and Human Forest both operate there now.
—Nicole Kobie, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Whether or not that played into the Board of Medicine’s actions, the body slapped down the Settlement Agreement and offered a Counter Settlement Agreement, which Simmons accepted.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen slapped down Trump's fixation on Greenland last month.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
Council plans Hammersmith and Fulham, the local council where the trial is happening, has previously slapped down bike sharing companies for cluttering up streets, but Lime and Human Forest both operate there now.
—Nicole Kobie, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Whether or not that played into the Board of Medicine’s actions, the body slapped down the Settlement Agreement and offered a Counter Settlement Agreement, which Simmons accepted.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down
Verb
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Anti-Diversity Policies: The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe after several American Embassies sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs.—
Victoria Kim,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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Rubio sought to quell anxieties among his European counterparts as Trump’s tariffs take effect, the president mulls withdrawing from NATO altogether and U.S. support for Ukraine hangs in the balance.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To tell the Blue Devils, basically, not to suppress their emotions.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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Older, post-menopausal women are especially susceptible, since lower estrogen levels can lead to decreased levels of beneficial bacteria that suppress infection-causing bacteria.—
Alice Park,
TIME,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Subdued volatility Unlike traditional assets, bitcoin’s pops and drops were relatively subdued this week, which some investors took as a mark of its maturity.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
12 Apr. 2025
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Up until last week, the president had been more subdued in his criticism of the central bank than in his first term.—
Colby Smith,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Teddy, who unfortunately had to be put down last week for a terminal illness, would accompany Mehlberg on her trips every day, while Dodge would come less often given his age.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA TODAY,
15 Mar. 2025
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The company, amid Wall Street concerns about cash flow this quarter, has been offering a variety of incentives to juice sales, including 0% financing deals (as long as buyers put down a large down payment).—
Nathan Bomey,
Axios,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slap down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap%20down. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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