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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fell
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025
When a mother tree is felled, the survival rate of many of its seedlings may be drastically reduced, a process not unlike the reciprocal feedback loop of Yggdrasill, whose deterioration in response to discord in the nine realms spells cosmic collapse.
—Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Those cuts are likely going to be coming in one fell swoop, Paramount president Jeff Shell made clear Wednesday as CEO Ellison and his top team met with the press in Los Angeles a week after officially taking over from Shari Redstone in an $8.4 billion acquisition.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Hedda, so determined to be mistress of her own emotions, is felled.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025
When a mother tree is felled, the survival rate of many of its seedlings may be drastically reduced, a process not unlike the reciprocal feedback loop of Yggdrasill, whose deterioration in response to discord in the nine realms spells cosmic collapse.
—Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The eight inaugural Chicago-area Jack in the Boxes are all corporate owned and occupy former Arby’s restaurants acquired in one fell swoop from a large franchise operator to get the brand reestablished quickly in the market, Ingram said.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Those cuts are likely going to be coming in one fell swoop, Paramount president Jeff Shell made clear Wednesday as CEO Ellison and his top team met with the press in Los Angeles a week after officially taking over from Shari Redstone in an $8.4 billion acquisition.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Polish airspace was violated by at least 19 Russian drones overnight, the country's prime minister said, in a torrent of activity that triggered a response from the NATO country's air force, which scrambled and downed several of the drones.—
Will Gretsky,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Avoid heavy foot traffic on the grass and don’t mow it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Even a person mowing their lawn on a windy day might send embers into the air.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Utah police on Friday arrested Tyler Robinson for allegedly killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, although his potential motive remains hazy.—
Claire Cameron,
semafor.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Key Background Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was killed in an unprovoked attack on a commuter rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The most recent execution via firing squad in the United States occurred in South Carolina, where Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed in March, opting for the method instead of the electric chair or lethal injection.—
Amanda Castro
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
While officers in the garage tried to find Cook’s firearm before approaching him, Miller from outside the front of the house gave commands to other officers to retrieve a shield and a 40mm less-lethal projectile launcher, the reports showed.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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There was a time when loving someone of the wrong gender could result in harassment, arrest or a savage beating.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The video, released Thursday night, showed a person running across a rooftop of the building from which the fatal round was fired before climbing down and dropping to the ground.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The researchers found that shelter canines were more active at night and showed higher stress hormone levels shortly after intake, but their activity and stress levels dropped over time—especially after adoption.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Some are value-destroying black holes; others are relentless value creators.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last week, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Last week's deadly shooting also heightens concerns of university safety protocols and security at public events.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The mid-air collision sent both aircraft hurtling into the Potomac River and left no survivors, becoming the deadliest airline crash in the country since 2001.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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