smackdown
Americannoun
-
a severe rebuke or criticism.
his amazing smackdown of the protesters.
-
a humbling defeat.
-
a confrontation, contest, or fight, as between wrestlers or other competitors.
noun
-
a wrestling bout
-
any intensely fought contest
-
a decisive blow
Etymology
Origin of smackdown
First recorded in 1990–95; smack 2 ( def. ) + down 1 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That said, I have to read one more smackdown.
From Slate • Jan. 23, 2026
“I’m Your Mother” isn’t guidance, it’s a verbal smackdown wrapped in laughter that’s unremorseful and so well written, Tim Dillon is now our mother.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025
Watching him meltdown in real time has the allure of a WWE smackdown.
From Salon • May 9, 2024
Those are the two main take-aways from Baltimore’s 37-3 smackdown of the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2023
‘Ah, right. Hedge nodded sagely. ‘That was a vicious little smackdown.’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
