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
David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
The rebuilding took 1,200 oak trees felled from forests across France to replace the framework of the roof and 1,000 construction workers.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Now imagine he was felled by an assassin’s bullet.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
The rebuilding took 1,200 oak trees felled from forests across France to replace the framework of the roof and 1,000 construction workers.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Though small in stature, Duiker Island serves as one of Cape Town’s crown jewels for ecotourism, showcasing the stunning beauty of the Atlantic and the African continent all in one fell swoop.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Chapman was part of a SEAL Team Six mission during the war in Afghanistan in which helicopters were downed.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While applying pre-emergent herbicides in September or October is the best defense against these weeds, mowing in late fall and winter can help manage any that appear after the herbicide window.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
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Outdoors, WhistlinDiesel drove a truck into Ben, took it into downtown Nashville, and even used it to mow a lawn.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tom is torn between loyalty to his dead wife and love for the estranged son who killed her.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
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How many people did Ed Gein kill in real life?—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tennessee law holds that those who committed crimes before 1999 can choose between being put to death by lethal injection or the electric chair.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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And of course 100% lethal to the child.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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McBride sets the political context for Swift’s savage indignation by noting that 1727–1729 saw three successive harvest failures in Ireland.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Sep. 2025
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The singer went viral at Monday night’s show for her seemingly savage reaction to Tori Kelly and Muni Long’s tribute performance.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Riddle claimed their relationship was consensual, and the lawsuit was eventually dropped.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Two months after historic floods swept through the Milwaukee area, new data shows that nearly 2,200 homes throughout Milwaukee County sustained major damage or were destroyed.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Police in Florida are searching for two men caught on camera destroying a mall store while stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise.—
Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In April, Gumrukcu’s lavish life came crashing back to reality when he was found guilty of orchestrating a deadly hit on a former business partner who threatened to unveil the slippery Los Angeles businessman’s fraudulent past.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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What started as a joyful dance party on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah suddenly became one of the first targets and deadliest sites of a surprise terror attack by Hamas.—
Gaby Vinick,
ABC News,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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