fell

⁴fell

adj

Definition of FELL

1

a : fierce, cruel, terrible b : sinister, malevolent <a fell purpose> c : very destructive : deadly <a fell disease>

2

Scottish : sharp, pungent

— fell·ness noun

— fel·ly \ˈfel-lē\ adverb

Examples of FELL

1. <planning in the event that the enemy resorted to biological warfare and released some fell virus on the civilian population>
2. <Captain Cook died in a scuffle with some fell natives of the Hawaiian Islands.>

Origin of FELL

Middle English fel, from Anglo-French — more at felon

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FELL

Synonyms: baleful, deathly, fatal, deadly, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, terminal, vital

Antonyms: healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome

Related Words: baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent; infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent; dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound; bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine

Near Antonyms: beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary; alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic; advantageous, beneficial, useful; nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe

see all synonyms and antonyms

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