smackdowns
Decisive public humiliations
Smackdowns are acts of forceful defeat or humiliation—verbal or physical confrontations where one side decisively dominates the other.
The word comes from professional wrestling, where a smackdown is a dramatic takedown of an opponent.
It now applies broadly to any crushing rebuke or victory: The senator delivered a smackdown to her critics.
That debate was a total smackdown.
Pro grappling promotion
- body slamForceful wrestling throw
- finisherOne who completes tasks
- pinfallPins toppled in bowling
- submissionYielding to another's will
ring · turnbuckle · referee · champion · heel · face · grudge match · cage match
Of or in words
- publicAvailable to all
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- debateFormal argument on issues
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
burn · clapback · roast · diss · callout · mic drop · comeback · retort
Formal argument on issues
- electionOrganized public voting
- defeatVictory over another
- landslideMass of earth falling
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
incumbent · challenger · campaign · primary · polls · rhetoric · opposition · mandate
Civil court proceeding
- rulingFormal legal determination
- verdictOfficial court decision
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
court · regulatory · antitrust · penalty · fine · sanctions · enforcement · compliance
WWE
Pro grappling promotion
submission · ring · turnbuckle · referee · champion · heel · face · grudge match · cage match · piledriver
verbal
Of or in words
- publicAvailable to all
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- debateFormal argument on issues
rebuttal · burn · clapback · roast · diss · callout · mic drop · comeback · retort · owned
debate
Formal argument on issues
upset · incumbent · challenger · campaign · primary · polls · rhetoric · opposition · mandate · rebuke
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- rulingFormal legal determination
- verdictOfficial court decision
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
judgment · court · regulatory · antitrust · penalty · fine · sanctions · enforcement · compliance · cease and desist
smackdownsnail-biters
Suspenseful, closely contested events
toss-ups · photo finishes · squeakers · draws · ties
smackdownsupsets
Disturbs or overturns
comebacks · giant-killings · Cinderella stories · reversals · turnarounds
smackdownslovefests
Excessive mutual admiration gatherings
reconciliations · truces · love-ins · mutual admiration societies · embraces