slapped down

verb

past tense of slap down
as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force public protests against the dictatorial government were always promptly slapped down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slapped down The majority also slapped down his global tariffs, finding that only Congress had the authority to impose them. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 Today the Supreme Court slapped down the move made by a federal appeals court last year to overturn Hernandez's conviction. — Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 Kalshi won a key case last week when a federal appeals court slapped down an attempt by New Jersey to curb the platform. — Justin Papp,garrett Downs, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026 Right away, he got slapped down by the Revolutionary Guard. — NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026 Time and time again, courts have slapped down these strong-arm tactics that lack the force of law. — Bob Morgan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026 And that’s the big ol’ marker general manager Adam Peters has slapped down on the table, a year-plus into his stint here. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 But his vague inferences have been easily slapped down with clear details about prices not being met and no promises being made. — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapped down
  1. suppressed
  2. quelled
  3. subdued
  4. put down
Verb
  • When women tried to march for their rights, they were violently suppressed, and by 2023, nearly all those in Afghan jails were political prisoners, and many were tortured.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Hong Kong's independent bookstores, many of them tucked away from busy streets inside buildings, have long offered a refuge and a window to a freer world for some mainland Chinese readers seeking ideas suppressed at home.
    — KANIS LEUNG, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppressed
Verb
  • Bradman was the top run scorer for Australia but had only one century in the series, suggesting his threat had been quelled.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Coach Regis Le Bris appears to have quelled that for this summer, citing a lack of other striking options beyond Brian Brobbey in a season where his side have European football to contend with on top of domestic matters.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of quelled
Verb
  • Hughes allegedly questioned the arrest and resisted officers before deputies subdued him.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Once he was caught, Clark said Hughes tried to get out of his handcuffs and had to be subdued.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of subdued
Verb
  • During lunch, a familiar song came on and every server stopped, put down their trays, climbed onto the tables, and started dancing.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
  • According to a recent paper by the French Institute of International Relations, the SAF and its supporters claim to be putting down an armed rebellion as Sudan’s legitimate government.
    — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of put down

Browse Nearby Words

slapped
slapped down
slapping
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slapped down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapped%20down. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All