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
Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
If a tree is found to be infested, Ewing recommends felling it and disposing of the wood by cutting it into chips and composting it.
—Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2025
Sam Winter-Levy, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2025
There are occasions, however, when the platform spaces out its programming to prolong the rush binge viewers get watching several episodes in one fell swoop.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Four years after that, on June 2, 2017, career game number 283, another fastball felled the Brewers’ Jonathan Villar for number 2,000, which was one of 14 strikeouts that day in Milwaukee.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
If a tree is found to be infested, Ewing recommends felling it and disposing of the wood by cutting it into chips and composting it.
—Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2025
Adjective
But taking out an entire command-and-control system in one fell swoop will never be straightforward, even with advanced technology.
—Sam Winter-Levy, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2025
There are occasions, however, when the platform spaces out its programming to prolong the rush binge viewers get watching several episodes in one fell swoop.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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However, there were 36 active hunters left, so only 1 out of every 12 would down a buck.—
Chester Chatfield,
Outdoor Life,
20 Aug. 2025
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Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces downed at least 24 Ukrainian drones overnight.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In addition, members enjoy that regular maintenance like mowing the grass, snow removal, or even changing light bulbs is taken care of for them.—
Steve Jahnke,
Kansas City Star,
21 Aug. 2025
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Tomorrow, a household robot might be mowing your lawn, folding your laundry and troubleshooting your home’s electrical systems.—
Erik Jost,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Weather systems Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter were classified as tropical storms earlier this year, as Barry caused flooding in southeastern Mexico and Central Texas, where flooding killed more than 130 people.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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Desperate Housewives starred Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Longoria and Nicollette Sheridan as five women — mostly friends — living on Wisteria Lane, who begin uncovering dark secrets after their neighbor Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) kills herself.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The true key to the film’s success is Ronan herself, who perfectly balances deadly precision with emotional vulnerability—childlike in curiosity but lethal in execution.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Verb
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January is also one of the best times to find low airfares because demand typically drops after New Year's Day, said Ellie Breslin, spokeswoman for the airfare tracking website Hopper.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Cunha, ostensibly operating at centre-forward, often dropped to get the ball.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For weeks after the house was destroyed, Ms. Monarrez couldn’t sleep.—
Jill Cowan,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
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Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Both are incredibly venomous and deadly, but the Coral snake has more neurotoxic venom on a drop-for-drop basis.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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The suspect in the deadly shooting Friday, Aug. 22 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit was taken into custody early Saturday morning, according to the Detroit Police Department.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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