beatdown

American  

[beet-doun] / ˈbitˌdaʊn /

noun

1. a decisive defeat.

   The team is on its way to the quarterfinals after delivering last night's 12–3 beatdown.

2. a severe beating.

   If you said that to me, you'd get the beatdown of your life.

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verb phrase

1. to cause to be subdued, discouraged, or hopeless.

   Never allow yourself to be beaten down by the hardships you face in life.

   Every time someone raises this issue, others beat them down with outraged attacks on their patriotism.

2. to beat physically.

   Protesters had been beaten down by police wielding batons.

3. to persuade (a seller) to lower the price of something.

   His first price was too high, so we tried to beat him down.

Etymology

Origin of beatdown

First recorded in 1985–90, for the noun; 1610–20, for the verb

Example Sentences

Beginning in early February, he didn’t play more than 20 minutes a game the rest of the season, which, after he experienced such success in the Badger beatdown, he found increasingly frustrating.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

In the process he has led Vanderbilt to five straight wins, including a 31-7 beatdown of No. 11 South Carolina.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025

The performance meant that the Americans had managed to avoid a complete beatdown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 28, 2025

A stream of odd inquiries submitted to the court include a request to challenge President Trump to "a beatdown session" or a round of golf.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

Clayton was certain Train Ear would throw his blues harp onto the train tracks, but within him, he also knew the other Beat Boys wouldn’t give him a beatdown.

From "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Rita Williams-Garcia