1
as in to down
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
a champion boxer who was shockingly felled in the first round
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to mow
to bring down by cutting
the settlers began the daunting task of felling the mighty trees that blanketed the island
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
the quest for a cure for malaria, the disease that felled so many during the digging of the Panama Canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
planning for the distribution of resources in case of some fell event
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
a once-mighty nation conquered by a fell and barbarous enemy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fell
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
The storm felled trees and powerlines alike, leaving more than 15,000 households still without power late Monday morning, according to NIPSCO.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
If both came together in one fell swoop, Djokovic would probably retire a very happy man.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Their research concluded that the timbers used to build the lodge were felled in the winter of 1561-1562, placing its construction during the earlier years of the reign of Elizabeth I, who ruled England between 1558 and 1603.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
The storm felled trees and powerlines alike, leaving more than 15,000 households still without power late Monday morning, according to NIPSCO.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
These classic vacuums are known for their huge dust bin capacities—ideal for cleaning the whole house in one fell swoop—as well as their powerful suction technology.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
If both came together in one fell swoop, Djokovic would probably retire a very happy man.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
British retail giant Marks & Spencer has been hit by a cyberattack that's downed its online payments for five days, with a ransomware group known as Scattered Spider reportedly linked to the hack.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The group has claimed to have downed 19 of the U.S. military's MQ-9 drones, the latest reportedly shot down on Sunday, throughout the campaign.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For the Stroitel players, this meant fulfilling their normal duties of mowing and marking the pitch ahead of that semi-final.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
For lawn care, start with just mowing before adding edging and landscaping.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After a preliminary investigation, authorities determined the father fatally stabbed his sons and wife before killing himself.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
-
Now that Anne Arundel's top prosecutor has been removed from the trial of a doctor accused of killing his wife, the county's State's Attorney's Office may step away from the case completely.—
Luke Parker,
Baltimore Sun,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
The serial killer sat on death row for 14 years before execution by lethal injection on May 10, 1994, at age 52.—
Andrew Nodell,
People.com,
9 May 2025
-
Autopsy reports for two previous executions by lethal injection indicated both prisoners required multiple doses of the sedative pentobarbital to die, and the process took more than 10 minutes.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Verb
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Officers then turned her over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for a deportation hearing, although police later dropped the traffic charges against her, according to local media reports.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
Defense: ‘Two people, two weapons’ Since last month’s hearing in the high-profile case, Hippler has made several consequential evidence rulings, and two others over whether to drop the death penalty as a sentencing option.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
To allow these courts to be destroyed to make pickleball courts is just wrong.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2025
-
Black residents had already been moving away because of gentrification before the fires and saw their homes severely damaged or destroyed at higher rates than other groups during the blaze.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The deadly dismantling of a global public-health infrastructure.—
Jia Tolentino,
New Yorker,
3 May 2025
-
Too late in comprehending the deadly purpose of a potential enemy.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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