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
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Trees must be felled with dangerous and expensive equipment, dragged up muddy and steep slopes with cables, cut into lengths, loaded onto trucks and hauled.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
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, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
In reality, what felled her was not just one gangster’s greed but an entire organization’s—the inheritors of Rothstein’s operation—zeroing in on a mom-and-pop, or at least a mom, business, as big enterprises always do.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Trees must be felled with dangerous and expensive equipment, dragged up muddy and steep slopes with cables, cut into lengths, loaded onto trucks and hauled.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Colleen began building from there, fashioning both her first-ever custom look and first wedding dress in one fell swoop.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
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, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Pentagon has deployed unmanned aircraft for spying missions over the Black Sea, with one drone downed by a Russian fighter jet in March 2023.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces downed at least 51 Ukrainian drones overnight into Tuesday morning, two which were en route to Moscow.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Under the new process, property owners will still receive a notice when a violation occurs, but if the issue is not corrected within seven days, the Parks and Recreation Department will step in to mow or clean the property, the release states.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
3 Sep. 2025
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Even though the weather is much more tolerable than in the hot summer months, once that fall feeling arrives, the end of mowing the grass for the year is in sight.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Milwaukee police are searching for the driver of a 2008 GMC pickup truck, accused of leaving the scene after striking and killing a 48-year-old pedestrian.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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As of Monday afternoon, police reported at least 55 people had been shot citywide, with seven people killed, over the Labor Day weekend.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But the two actors did get to work together on their TV series Chosen, an action-thriller series following a lawyer (Ventimiglia) who has been chosen by a mysterious organization known as The Watchers to participate in a lethal game.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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August marks deadliest month on record ever Israel's lethal attacks on Palestinian journalists in Gaza have only intensified in recent weeks.—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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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Wear it with a pair of pumps, and layer it with your favorite peacoat when the temperatures drop for a classic fall look.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
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Super Bowl 60 Did Taylor Swift drop breadcrumbs pointing to a third Super Bowl appearance, but this time as halftime headliner?—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Examples of attacks include everything from graffiti and destruction of statues to arsonists destroying entire churches and assailants attacking churchgoers with deadly weapons.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Homes and buildings were destroyed, debris strewn everywhere.—
Cara Owsley,
The Enquirer,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hurricane Ian, the deadliest storm to hit the state since 1935, made landfall in late September 2022.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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She was previously charged with CHILD ABUSE, second-degree domestic assault, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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