1
as in dropping
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
downed his opponent with one stunning blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in sipping
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat
downing slices of pizza and guzzling bottles of soda
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dismissing
to reject by or as if by a vote
all attempts to ban indoor smoking had been downed by the town council
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downing
Some of its members have rallied under the screwy rap banner Chugg, which came from affiliates Cash300 and Onemillionkisses’ birthdays in 2023, when the crew was watching the YouTuber BadlandsChugs, who won a Guinness World Record for downing a liter of Mountain Dew in six seconds.
—
Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
And not just from downing nootropic stacks and Chinese peptides, the latest tech-world fad drugs.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drone expertise is valuable, and in exchange for help in downing Iranian drones, Ukraine is seeking funding and technology to increase its own drone production.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 15 Mar. 2026
But with so much to be gained from a higher Premier League finish, Howe cannot simply fixate upon downing Barcelona when the odds are against Newcastle.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
But viewers might not have to fill those three minutes staring at Lionel Messi downing a Gatorade.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
After downing the Golden Grizzlies (1-14) twice Friday, first 6-3, then 10-2, the Aggies (14-1) jumped all over their opponent again Saturday.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
In the split-screen beside him, footage of air defenses downing Iranian Shahed drones appeared to underscore his point.
—Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Ukraine's drones are effective at downing Iran's one-way attack drones.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
And not just from downing nootropic stacks and Chinese peptides, the latest tech-world fad drugs.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drone expertise is valuable, and in exchange for help in downing Iranian drones, Ukraine is seeking funding and technology to increase its own drone production.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 15 Mar. 2026
But with so much to be gained from a higher Premier League finish, Howe cannot simply fixate upon downing Barcelona when the odds are against Newcastle.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
But viewers might not have to fill those three minutes staring at Lionel Messi downing a Gatorade.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
After downing the Golden Grizzlies (1-14) twice Friday, first 6-3, then 10-2, the Aggies (14-1) jumped all over their opponent again Saturday.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
In the split-screen beside him, footage of air defenses downing Iranian Shahed drones appeared to underscore his point.
—Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Ukraine's drones are effective at downing Iran's one-way attack drones.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downing
Verb
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There’s a beguiling dissonance between the hushed voiceover and the images of ships carrying cables and dropping them in the ocean for the internet to reach the island.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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The company is dropping its signature orange shipping container drive-thru in Lee’s Summit at 210 SW Oldham Parkway.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If sipping coffee on the go is your thing, this travel mug is a must-have.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Watch sailboats glide by at sunset while sipping on a cocktail, or gather around the fire pit in the winter with a bowl of short rib rigatoni.—
Morgan Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On this front, Hochul is correct to push for a reevaluation, and the lawmakers dismissing the idea out-of-hand should come up with viable alternatives for protecting New Yorkers from price shocks that are well out of their control.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Missé, of course, is upset about it, particularly because Margo brings up what Kimi said about the murder being drug related while dismissing it, which is the part that makes this discussion tricky.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After hitting 11 of their first 17 attempts, the Bison finished 14 of 29.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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The problem is the film just keeps hitting this same note over and over without ever caring to explore the psychology that underpins this.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When a pet bites into the plant, those crystals embed in mouth tissue, which explains why oral irritation and swallowing difficulty are the primary symptoms.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
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If these patterns appear regularly, a medical evaluation can help identify whether swallowing changes are involved.—
Sundeep Venkatesan,
The Conversation,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In some cases, the frost is severe enough to end the growing season and is then referred to as a 'killing frost'.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
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Orosco is accused of shooting and killing Jimmy Schwarz, 22, at a gas station on Thanksgiving night in 1996.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There are also concerns that toppling a regime that's been so firmly in control of the country for nearly half a century, with no obvious new administration waiting to take over, could simply create chaos.—
Haley Ott,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Dozens of shipping containers on a vessel at the Port of Long Beach were lost or damaged after heavy weather sent them toppling over in the harbor, the Coast Guard said.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, where Quigley was embedded as a homicide investigator, disclosed earlier this month that Quigley was allegedly drinking with another State Police officer at a bar near the Superior Court before the crash, according to an office employee.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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Three deaths by low blood sodium — two resulting from men with mental illness drinking excessive amounts of water in their cells, a rare and avoidable condition, while the third was likely the same cause.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downing. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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