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 object of his attention is Alexander Isak, the striker who left Newcastle for Liverpool a year ago after downing tools and refusing to play and is now back on Tyneside for the first time. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 115 mph, downing palm trees and causing damage to boats and buildings. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026 Walter Johnson won his American League-record 15th straight game, downing Cleveland 4-2 in the opener of a doubleheader. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Tahj Washington made a special teams play, downing a Bradley Pinion punt at the 2-yard line. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downing

Verb

Saturday night and early Sunday have a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, which the chance dropping to 30% during the day Sunday and climbing to a 60% chance late Sunday and early Monday, the forecast showed.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2026
After dropping its second game of the season at SMU, the Hurricanes rattled off four consecutive wins to get the final at-large spot into the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of dropping

Verb

But Arthur Ashe Stadium being loud, filled with fans taking flash photos and sipping on Honey Deuce cocktails at $23 a piece is nothing new.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Right now, in high summer, find me on a stool in the nook’s half-light sipping a cocktail simply called Peach.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of sipping

Verb

The Orioles scored only one run over their previous three games against Boston, but Joey Cantillo (9-9) did plenty to help them out of their slump, allowing 3 hits and 5 walks and hitting 2 batters in 2 1/3 innings.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
In men’s tennis, before even hitting the ball, the server has around a 66 percent chance of winning the point.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

As Silicon Valley remakes the world yet again, swallowing up our water and spiking our electricity bills, homelessness remains endemic to that region of California.

— Piper French, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
Officials added that people cannot become infected with Naegleria fowleri by swallowing contaminated water; however, the amoeba can enter the body when it is forcefully introduced, such as through the nose into the brain.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

And while some don’t want to wait that long to have the chance of toppling Infantino, the current FIFA boss does have some support swimming in the sea of objectors.

— Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The vehicle even remained intact after toppling over, a feat none of its predecessors had pulled off.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of toppling

Verb

Public health officials have cautioned for years that older adults are drinking more, and more often.

— Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
This week’s newsletter looks at why people are drinking less alcohol, how the world judges America and how many people use chatbots like a friend.

— Scott Clement, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026