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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Briefly Captain Jared Spurgeon returned to practice after being felled this week by an illness.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 21 Feb. 2025
David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Investigators say the crew distinguished itself by going to various shopping centers and hitting virtually every store there in one fell swoop.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
More news: Oldest Manager in MLB Bans Players From Using Cell Phones
Starting catcher Tyler Stephenson was recently felled by an oblique strain that will sideline him for weeks, if not months, into the regular season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Briefly Captain Jared Spurgeon returned to practice after being felled this week by an illness.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
But Trump’s tariffs seek to remake the global economy in one fell swoop.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Investigators say the crew distinguished itself by going to various shopping centers and hitting virtually every store there in one fell swoop.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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Pakistan responded by aerial raids, downed an Indian military aircraft and captured an Indian pilot, who was later released.—
Time,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
-
One tree was cut in the 500 block of North Broadway; three were sawed near 1550 W. 8th St.; five were downed near 350 S. Grand Ave.; three were cut near 717 W. Temple St.; and one was taken out near 300 Treadwell St., according to LAPD officials.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In lawns, take care not to mow too low, as this opens the canopy to seed establishment.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
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Mind you, traditional maintenance crews still mow the fairways and greens at this club.—
Scott Kramer,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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One participant, Thomas Bragg, discovered how to talk about his friendship with Eddie Lama, who was killed in action.—
Made by History,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Crown prosecutors allege Patterson deliberately served lethal mushrooms to kill her lunch guests; her defense counsel claims the deaths were a tragic accident.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Here’s what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2025
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James Osgood will be executed by lethal injection just after 6 p.m. Thursday at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 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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From Mexico, arrivals to the U.S. by air dropped nearly 17% in March, compared with March last year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
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In Chicago last weekend, the Red Sox dropped two of three.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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More than half a dozen tornadoes have been confirmed, including one in Marshall County, Oklahoma, that left two homes completely destroyed and damaged about 20 others.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Fans of the franchise will remember that the Battle of Exegol was the climactic showdown between the Resistance and the First Order, which ended with the Sith being destroyed once and for all.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At least eight people were killed in drone strikes across the country, a night after Russia launched its deadliest bombardment of Ukraine since the middle of last year.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
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Listen to this article A woman driver who fatally struck a 57-year-old pedestrian in Brooklyn in January has been arrested— three months after the deadly crash, police said.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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