TALKING DOWN Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

talking down

verb

present participle of talk down

as in dismissing

to express scornfully one's low opinion of a company that prefers to talk up its own products rather than talk down those of its competitors

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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 talking down Police chief Fuller is correct — talking down a place can be self-fulfilling. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Leadership training disputes The lawsuit alleges Petersen began subjecting Kennon to discriminatory treatment around January 2024, including talking down to her, ignoring her and questioning her judgment. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026 Any emphasis in his Jackson Hole address on his commitment to 2% inflation could help in talking down long bond yields. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 Not talking down to them, and tackling real subject matter that’s universal, about family and relationships and nature versus nurture and grief. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026 The Malheur standoff also drew in the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, which Northern California sheriffs credited for talking down the Henrichsens and ending last month’s kidnapping without bloodshed. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2026 In a daring high-wire act high above the East River, fearless NYPD cops spent nearly an hour on a span of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge talking down a woman desperately threatening to jump. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026 Politicos everywhere are talking down Johnson’s chances. — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 During his remarks, Beshear accused Vance, whose memoir explores issues such as poverty and the lack of opportunity in Appalachia and the Rust Belt, of talking down to the people of Kentucky. — Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking down

Verb

Yet, our president is dismissing all of the concerns as a hoax.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
Owner Jim Crane already enacted one by dismissing general manager Dana Brown in August.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

Take Out As Much Risk As Possible Ultimately, scaling a local service business comes down to maximizing value while minimizing uncertainty.

— David Cozzens, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Adopting strong, common-sense building codes for large buildings and minimizing cuts to energy efficiency should be a no-brainer to anyone seeking to follow Moore’s directive.

— Tom Nyein, Baltimore Sun, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of minimizing

Verb

The dress was crafted with contrasting fabrics, pairing a firmer, structured bodice with a plunging neckline and buttons running down the front placket with a softer skirt.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Tammy Faye stuck by Bakker, often with tears running down her mascara, even as many saw his downfall as a fitting symbol of the greed and hypocrisy of the 1980s.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of running down

Verb

Between terrorism and global warming and diminishing natural resources, the world is out of balance.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Basic tasks like summarization, translation and drafting offer diminishing differentiation as tools become widespread.

— Fabio Caversan, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminishing

Verb

Mudryk, a right-footed forward best known for playing down the left, is among Leeds’ preferred options and talks are ongoing with Chelsea, despite an initial knock-back.

— Beren Cross, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
In response to the concerns, companies including Amazon and Microsoft have been playing down the issue, saying the data center water use can be done responsibly, or sourced from wastewater.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of playing down

Verb

Thai Union ended up losing its entire Red Lobster stake, writing off its $530 million investment in the company and announcing its intent to divest the chain in January 2024.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
No one is writing off the Eagles, but some concerns shouldn’t be ignored.

— Jeff Howe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026