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
Scott Simon, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Only a shadow of these forests’ old-growth trees remain as their second-growth progeny continue to be felled.
—Evan Mills, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 25 Mar. 2026
The 39-year-old photographer from Beirut captured a stunning sequence of images in the early hours of Wednesday, showing an Israeli missile demolishing a tower block in one fell swoop.
—Max Butterworth, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
And to be sure, there were winds and rain strong enough to fell several trees, flood a few roads, and knock out power in some Maryland and Virginia suburbs.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Only a shadow of these forests’ old-growth trees remain as their second-growth progeny continue to be felled.
—Evan Mills, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Most of these brands are still relatively up-and-coming in South Korea, and in bringing them Stateside in one fell swoop, Ulta looks to be a first-mover in the fast-growing Korean hair care category.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 25 Mar. 2026
The 39-year-old photographer from Beirut captured a stunning sequence of images in the early hours of Wednesday, showing an Israeli missile demolishing a tower block in one fell swoop.
—Max Butterworth, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
During the first wave of search and rescue after the jet was downed, the pilot was located and extracted by an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some of these grasses also grow relatively slowly compared to cool-season grass, which can mean mowing less frequently.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
11 Apr. 2026
-
If hairy bittercress overtakes your lawn, mow frequently in early spring to remove as many flowers as possible.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The day the truce was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Several bills to increase restrictions have already been killed this legislative session, with a single measure to digitize reports still alive.—
Thomas Heaton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in 2014 with a syringe in his arm and a lethal combination of heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine in his system.—
Jack Hannah,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
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The judge had ordered that the curtains to the official witness room be opened earlier during a lethal injection, allowing witnesses to observe the inmate being secured with restraints to a gurney and the IV insertion process itself.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.—
Case Thorp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The loss of books is minor, almost trivial, in light of all the horrors and violence unleashed by this senseless war, but the potential loss of these books is a sad reminder that we’re all affected and implicated in America’s savage flailings.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Season 2 of the Netflix iteration dropped all nine of its episodes on April 10, with early promises to stay faithful evaporating as new attractions emerged and simmering resentments boiled over.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Independent opinion polls show support for Fidesz has dropped to its lowest level in years.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
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But now with factories, energy facilities, bridges and railways destroyed—leaving many Iranians unemployed—conditions have gotten worse.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The woman had an active domestic violence restraining order against Garcia at the time of the deadly shooting.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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