1
as in dropping
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
downed his opponent with one stunning blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
These winds will be capable of snapping tree branches and downing power lines.
—
Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Severe storms Monday damaged communities across the Plains and Midwest, with tornadoes reported in Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin destroying homes, downing power lines and leaving over 25,000 without power in Wisconsin.
—Nick Ingram, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
After downing the Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night at State Farm Arena, the Hawks will bypass the Play-In Tournament for the first time since 2021.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Winds exceeding 50 mph can cause major damage, downing trees and power lines, and sending debris flying dangerously.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
Russia's defense ministry reported downing 7,347 Ukrainian drones during March, the highest monthly total ever reported by Moscow and an average of 237 craft each day.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Severe storms Monday damaged communities across the Plains and Midwest, with tornadoes reported in Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin destroying homes, downing power lines and leaving over 25,000 without power in Wisconsin.
—Nick Ingram, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
After downing the Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night at State Farm Arena, the Hawks will bypass the Play-In Tournament for the first time since 2021.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Winds exceeding 50 mph can cause major damage, downing trees and power lines, and sending debris flying dangerously.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
Russia's defense ministry reported downing 7,347 Ukrainian drones during March, the highest monthly total ever reported by Moscow and an average of 237 craft each day.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downing
Verb
-
On Friday, officials said the water levels were dropping after reaching less than 5 inches.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
There was also the City Council’s jaw-dropping decision in November to raise the annual fees for the two subsidized valet parking spots every hotel gets by 789% — from $634 to $5,000.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Just past the host stand, the bar is packed with patrons sipping on Mexican wines and boozy-but-balanced margaritas (sometimes both).—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
On Instagram, Kidman shared videos of her and Bullock sipping drinks out of mini cauldrons and walking the red carpet arm in arm.—
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After vacating the conviction, the judge took the additional step of dismissing the murder charge against Martinez, ending the criminal case against him entirely.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
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Before dismissing this activity or just trying to get through it, recognize your tendency to view nearly everything as a situation from which to extricate yourself as quickly and painlessly as possible.—
Charles Yu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Giants ace Logan Webb hitting the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing with a pitch, as well as Rushing’s subsequent hard slide into shortstop Willy Adames, pale in comparison to the clashes between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the past.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But the big ticket moment comes in the morning, when coffee is delivered to you in bed and the tent canopy is drawn to reveal the sun hitting the looming red rocks of the canyon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Popular with airboaters, froggers and fishermen, the swampy muck beneath the water may have acted as a pincushion, essentially swallowing the disabled DC-9 aircraft.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid swallowing water while swimming.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Mack was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her mother, while Schaefer, who admitted fatally beating von Wiese-Mack but claimed self defense, received an 18-year prison term.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The results showed that seventy-nine percent support some form of intervention, with some favoring toppling the regime and others wanting to deal with the humanitarian crisis, highlighting a range of priorities within the community.—
Morgan Rynor,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In December 2024, a rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham swept through the country with stunning speed, toppling the Assad regime that had ruled Syria since 1970.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Factors like drinking alcohol and swimming in choppy surf can turn a routine swim into something dangerous.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Limited research suggests drinking turmeric milk a few days after a workout may reduce muscle soreness.—
Megan Nunn,
Verywell Health,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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