noun
Uncommon
smackdown
SMAK-down
Smackdown (noun) means a decisive, often humiliating defeat or confrontation. Example: “The senator delivered a smackdown to her rival during the debate.”
noun
1
A decisive, often humiliating defeat or confrontation.
"The senator delivered a smackdown to her rival during the debate."
How to use smackdown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA crushing, public defeat or confrontation.
When to use it
Informal — common in sports commentary, politics, and pop culture.
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Word forms
- Plural
- smackdowns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The senator delivered a _____ to her rival during the debate.
Etymology
Formed from "smack down," meaning to defeat decisively, and popularized in the late 1990s by the American professional wrestling show WWF SmackDown!
Related words
Rhymes for smackdown
See all rhymes for smackdown →Frequently asked questions
What does “smackdown” mean?
The word “smackdown” means a decisive, often humiliating defeat or confrontation. In plain terms, a crushing, public defeat or confrontation.
How do you pronounce “smackdown”?
“Smackdown” is pronounced SMAK-down (/ˈsmækˌdaʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “smackdown” in a sentence?
Here is “smackdown” used in a sentence: “The senator delivered a smackdown to her rival during the debate.”
What part of speech is “smackdown”?
“Smackdown” is a noun.
Where does the word “smackdown” come from?
The word “smackdown” dates back to around 1990. Formed from "smack down," meaning to defeat decisively, and popularized in the late 1990s by the American professional wrestling show WWF SmackDown!.
Is “smackdown” a common word?
“Smackdown” is an uncommon word in modern English.
