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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fell
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Carlos Alcaraz couldn’t make it to the start line of the 2026 French Open, felled by a wrist injury.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026
Last season, Breslow made a franchise-altering trade in sending Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in an effort to recalibrate the clubhouse dynamics and the franchise’s finances in one fell swoop.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Now that same leader can be felled by an Instagram pile-on or a spurious Substack rumor, and is likelier to shy from the long, slow, gritty work of governance.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Carlos Alcaraz couldn’t make it to the start line of the 2026 French Open, felled by a wrist injury.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Adjective
Master the carry-on and personal item combo in one fell swoop with this Delsey Paris set at a steep $300-off price.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026
Last season, Breslow made a franchise-altering trade in sending Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in an effort to recalibrate the clubhouse dynamics and the franchise’s finances in one fell swoop.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
Shortly after Jim Jacobs downed his elk, Flag Swamp was drained and leveled for a new rail line.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The complaints also allege that sparking or downed power lines exacerbated the inferno.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Gen Alpha kids have grown up with AI Spending money for Gen Alpha kids is coming from allowances for doing chores (78%), payment for good grades (67%), and their own side hustles like mowing lawns and babysitting (57%), the survey found.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
-
To make your yard more tick-proof, get into the habit of mowing your lawn regularly.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The conflict began on June 13, 2025, when Israel targeted the heart of Iran’s nuclear program and its missile capabilities — an unprecedented attack that also killed several of Iran’s most powerful figures.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
The remaining seven were killed in action during operations against Iran.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Three Lions are led by the most lethal striker in the game Harry Kane.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
Idaho has not executed a prisoner in 14 years, last carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection in June 2012.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
What begins as a desperate family bonding trip rapidly devolves into savage violence and brutal psychological warfare.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
-
Their twiggy legs and bony frames exposed in bathing suits, the kids do indeed look extra vulnerable within the film’s savage landscape.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
On May 2, 2024, an undercover agent with the Illinois State Police (ISP) dropped the package off on Vishnevski's front porch and watched as Vishnevski retrieved the package and brought it inside, according to court filings.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
Dassault’s Mirage fighter – and more recently the Rafale – can creep into enemy airspace, dogfight, drop bombs and launch cruise missiles.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
In July 1936, anarchists set fire to the church’s crypt and broke into the architect’s workshop before destroying many of his plans and plaster models.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
The Russian president, who has never acknowledged that Ukraine is a legitimate country, or that Zelensky is its legitimate president, could continue to bomb Ukrainian cities, hoping to destroy the electrical grid and make the country unlivable.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Japan has long been battling a growing bear problem with deadly attacks reached record levels last fall.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
Prosecutors contend the evidence shows Anthony escalated a verbal dispute into a deadly encounter.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
