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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fell
Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Bristol-Myers Squibb down 16% Bristol-Myers is felling pressure after its schizophrenia drug, Cobenfy, failed expectations during a trial examining its efficacy as an add-on therapy for the disorder.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 May 2025
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
If both came together in one fell swoop, Djokovic would probably retire a very happy man.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Pei chuan Kao was felled by Oshiro early on her way to the finals.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Bristol-Myers Squibb down 16% Bristol-Myers is felling pressure after its schizophrenia drug, Cobenfy, failed expectations during a trial examining its efficacy as an add-on therapy for the disorder.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 May 2025
Adjective
These classic vacuums are known for their huge dust bin capacities—ideal for cleaning the whole house in one fell swoop—as well as their powerful suction technology.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
If both came together in one fell swoop, Djokovic would probably retire a very happy man.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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The town of London, 75 miles south of Lexington, was devastated − with entire neighborhoods razed with homes reduced to rubble, downed power lines and cars flipped and strewn onto yards.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Meanwhile, Russian forces have downed 75 Ukrainian drones in the past 24 hours, TASS, a Russian state news agency, reported Sunday, citing Russia’s defense ministry.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
18 May 2025
Verb
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Eufy officially claims the E18 can mow for 90 to 110 minutes and cover about 1,076 to 1,614 square feet (or 100 to 150 square meters) on a single charge, which seems accurate (if not low) based on my testing.—
Tyler Hayes,
PC Magazine,
10 May 2025
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Main Street turns into a different kind of valley, one that funnels them into a line straight toward the four men holding flame throwers, ready to mow them down.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The forecast comes after several devastating hurricanes battered the U.S. last year, including Helene, which killed 241 people across five states in September.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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The week took a tragic turn Wednesday evening in Washington, D.C., when two Israeli Embassy employees were shot and killed near a Jewish museum.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Oscar Franklin Smith is set to be executed by lethal injection for the 1989 murder of his estranged wife, 35-year-old Judith Robirds Smith, and her sons.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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The last electrocution was in 1990, the method has been lethal injection since that time.—
Ray Hanley,
Arkansas Online,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Verb
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Officers then turned her over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for a deportation hearing, although police later dropped the traffic charges against her, according to local media reports.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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The original justification for dropping HBO from HBO Max was to signal a something-for-everyone content cornucopia.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
14 May 2025
Verb
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An embarrassing, humbling, shocking Game 5 defeat showed that. All the same problems, the ones that destroyed Leaf team after Leaf team and ultimately ended Sheldon Keefe’s time as head coach, are emerging again at the worst possible time.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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At least 144 structures were destroyed and parts of Highway 44 were shut down, said St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Drone video shows tornadoes' damage in Kentucky morning after deadly storms 01:30 4.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
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Meanwhile, Russia is making steady gains in Ukraine, and Putin is preparing a summer offensive that could be the deadliest of the war so far, an expert has assessed.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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