tone down
Britishverb
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.
Maria O’Donnell, a journalist who drew Milei’s ire after urging him to tone down his rhetoric, said the president often appears to treat criticism as a personal attack.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
While the first day of their summit was light on concrete deals, the overarching take is that both countries are eager to tone down their economic rivalry.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
He was asked to tone down things, to sometimes “talk through” lyrics and to generally make the music more dramatic for the screen.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025
In his letter, the ambassador called on Macron to tone down his criticism of Israel and outlined examples of antisemitism which he said had "long scarred French life".
From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025
He sucked languidly, one bone after another, and did not bother to tone down the slurpy sounds his mouth made.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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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.