smackdown

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smackdown

/ˈsmækdaʊn/ UK
/ˈsmækˌdaʊn/ US

Where it comes from

Deverbal from smack down (“to defeat utterly and decisively, especially in a humiliating way”), from smack (“sharp blow, slap”, noun) + down. Influenced by earlier throwdown. Popularized by:

* the United States professional wrestling television programme WWF SmackDown! (first broadcast on April 29, 1999), now called WWE SmackDown and produced by World Wrestling Entertainment; and

* the phrase lay (or put) the smack down (“to start a fight”).

noun smackdowns

informal A physical or emotional confrontation; a battle, a fight; also, a bitter rivalry. Considering these numbers, which positively put the smackdown on GM's much celebrated fuel-cell concept vehicle, the Hy-Wire (built on the Autonomy chassis), Shimizu was understandably crestfallen when, at this year's Detroit auto show, he received but two orders for the KAZ.
informal A significant or humiliating setback or defeat; a beating, a thrashing.
Similar: ass beating, ass kicking, battering, beatdown, beating, boom-boom, clobbering, dressing-down, drubbing, dusting, flogging, hiding

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: fight, wrestle, slugfest, battle, mud fight, clash, fighting, brawl, pitched battle, fisticuffing, bodyslam, wrangle, brawling, controversy, encounter, battleground

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Cite this

MLA

"smackdown." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/smackdown. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

smackdown. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/smackdown

Chicago

"smackdown." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/smackdown.

BibTeX

@misc{smackdown_2026,
  title = {smackdown},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/smackdown},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}