DOWNING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

downing

verb

present participle of down

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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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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of downing The powerful storm swept through Chicago late Tuesday morning, downing large trees, and produced a 99-mph wind gust in nearby Gary, Indiana. — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026 His penchant for downing bottles of wine throughout his life seemed reasonable. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 July 2026 In England, an 18-year-old woman suffered three cardiac arrests after downing 10 Jägerbombs, a cocktail that combines an energy drink with the spirit Jägermeister. — Ashley Okwuosa, STAT, 30 July 2026 The incident prompted Dee and Dennis to pay more attention to their health, but opted for a shortcut by downing supplements and expecting magic to happen. — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026 The powerful winds are capable of causing catastrophic damage to structures while downing trees and power lines, and producing prolonged power outages. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Chestnut is now an 18-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion after blowing out the competition once again, this time by downing 66 hot dogs and buns in Coney Island. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 The Midwest, meanwhile, was recovering from a strong line of storms that tore through parts of Illinois, Indiana and northern Kentucky on Wednesday, bringing possible tornadoes, damaging homes, and downing trees and power lines in the region. — ABC News, 18 June 2026 Parts of Anne Arundel County were thrashed by high winds Friday night as a severe storm rolled through the area, downing trees and causing power outages. — Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downing

Verb

At the halfway mark, Bullock took the lead, with Esponda dropping to fifth due to limited difficulty in her uneven bars routine.

— Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
And the department has also seen several high-profile cases unravel recently, including dropping vandalism charges against a former Olympic canoeist and others over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

— NPR Staff, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of dropping

Verb

Laughing, smoking cigarettes, and sipping bottles of Red Stripe, numerous packs of Black folks lounged around the joint.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
Elsewhere, she was seen sipping drinks with Robbins, dining at a restaurant, playing Mahjong, and spending some quality time with close friends.

— Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of sipping

Verb

Exxon was far from alone in its historical awareness of CO₂ and rigorous research into its ongoing ecological impacts—and in its subsequent shift toward dismissing or denying the veracity of its own science.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Developer Senko Rasic argued in post that went viral - that dismissing coding as never having been the hard part insults programmers.

— Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

Jordan Walker extended his hitting streak to 10 games, the fourth streak of 10 of more games for him this season.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Lee gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the fifth by hitting his career-high ninth home run of the season, a solo shot that nearly landed in McCovey Cove.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

Those who don’t like swallowing pills will appreciate these tasty saffron gummy supplements.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Their father devoured his meal, slurping up soup with his right hand and swallowing bread spread with miso paste with his left.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

Prosecutors say after killing her children, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-story window, leaving her partially paralyzed.

— Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group attacked a village in Congo near the border with Uganda early Saturday, killing at least 13 people and burning and looting homes, a local civil society group said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of killing

Verb

Henry County officials are also investigating a possible tornado that moved through New Castle, Indiana, on Wednesday, toppling trees and ripping the roof off a commercial building.

— Michelle Simmons, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley won the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin’s governorship, toppling his Democratic socialist opponent, Francesca Hong, who had surged in the polls leading up to Tuesday.

— Chantelle Lee, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of toppling

Verb

Jennifer Messemer-Skold, the communications director for Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, said the department’s stance is that the county’s tap water meets all current requirements and residents don’t need a filter to be drinking high quality water.

— Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
As Ryan prepared to return to the United States, he and three members of the press were shot and killed, prompting Jones to enact a mass suicide plan involving drinking a fruit drink laced with poison and sedatives.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026