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
Chad De Guzman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Not even when Mourning was felled by kidney disease, when Tim Hardaway could manage little more than a limp, when Dwyane Wade regrettably was allowed to depart in free agency to the Bulls.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
And that creates just the kind of atmosphere where strong men emerge promising to solve all of our problems in one fell swoop.
—NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
With heavy snowfall and lashing winds, the storm is also expected to fell trees and down power lines.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Not even when Mourning was felled by kidney disease, when Tim Hardaway could manage little more than a limp, when Dwyane Wade regrettably was allowed to depart in free agency to the Bulls.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The mascara is made with rich black pigments that define lashes in one fell swoop, plus nourishing peptides and shea butter to condition them at the same time.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
And that creates just the kind of atmosphere where strong men emerge promising to solve all of our problems in one fell swoop.
—NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
Report downed power lines to the police.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Reddit user Lyngay downed a margarita made by the one and only Eva Longoria, who appeared at the Fairmont Hotel to promote her tequila company.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Reducing the need to mow reduces hearing damage and vibration injuries to lawn crews.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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These buffer strips don’t have to be mowed like traditional lawns, and the only maintenance required is to pull out invasive or woody plant species.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The same process happened with the government’s attempt to dismantle the Palestinian Authority in order to kill and bury the hope for Palestinian self-determination.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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The most recent attack occurred in Virginia at Old Dominion University, when 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh opened fire, killing one and injuring two others.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Boyd could not characterize the size of the knife or say whether officers had attempted less-lethal options before opening fire, though they are trained to do so depending on the incident.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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Lambda-cyhalothrin, which starves insects and is lethal to honeybees, was found on cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, lettuce and broccoli.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
They were met with savage brutality, with as many as 30,000 murdered by their own government.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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But they were met with savage brutality, with as many as 30,000 souls murdered by their own government.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Damien came away with a 58-55 victory at Golden 1 Center, becoming the fifth straight team from the Southern Section Open Division to drop down to Division I and come away as state champion.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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The United States dropped its pool play finale to Italy and had to wait out the final game — an eventual Italy rout over Mexico — to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Weeks later, his father was killed in a fire that destroyed the home Hamlin purchased to thank his parents for getting him into NASCAR.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its systems intercepted and destroyed 10 drones over the capital, Riyadh, and the kingdom’s eastern region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The drink contained nearly five times what is considered a deadly amount of the opioid, court filings showed.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The strike came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides exchanged fire along their common border, killing four people in Afghanistan, as the deadliest fighting between the neighbors in years entered a third week.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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