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
Between pushes, the nurse slips the soaked green sheet out from under me, slaps down a clean one.
—
Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
And then you'd be slapped down, immediately and politely, as is Hamm's way.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Then this week, Steele slapped down a bid to stay his preliminary injunction.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
Trump slapped down a small group of blue state Republican lawmakers, mostly from the New York suburbs, who are pushing for a big increase in the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
And then you'd be slapped down, immediately and politely, as is Hamm's way.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Then this week, Steele slapped down a bid to stay his preliminary injunction.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
Trump slapped down a small group of blue state Republican lawmakers, mostly from the New York suburbs, who are pushing for a big increase in the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slap down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slap down
Verb
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After years of smoking to help quell her anxiety, Tish found that the drug only made things worse.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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Don’t have a problem using the National Guard to quell rioting in Los Angeles, your anti-democracy.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Sandra Lynn Hemme filed the suit Thursday, which accuses investigators of fabricating evidence, coercing a false confession and suppressing evidence that could have proven her innocence.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
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Past research, Jansen notes, has found that cannabis can suppress the immune system through its active compounds: CBD, THC and other minor cannabinoids.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Verb
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But Vásquez Lasso’s partner that day, Officer Miguel Enciso, instead used his Taser to subdue Steven Montano, 21, who is charged with first-degree murder and other felonies in the March 1, 2023, slaying.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
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The overall inflation rate in the Bay Area has remained subdued in recent months.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Lygo was joined by ITV boss Carolyn McCall as the network unveiled a set of half-year results that saw profits slashed by 30%, which the broadcaster mainly put down to a stronger six months in 2024 when the men’s Euros soccer tournament was on.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 July 2025
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Borrowers who put down less than 20% of their homes’ purchase price as a down payment are subject to mortgage insurance, which is paid to the lender.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slap down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slap%20down. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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