1
as in dropping
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
a champion boxer who was shockingly felled in the first round
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2
as in mowing
to bring down by cutting
the settlers began the daunting task of felling the mighty trees that blanketed the island
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3
as in killing
to deprive of life
the quest for a cure for malaria, the disease that felled so many during the digging of the Panama Canal
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Recent Examples of felling
In wildfire prone areas, that can mean felling trees and clearing vegetation to create a defense zone around homes and buildings.
—
Contessa Brewer,dawn Giel, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
While Healey, 54, was bogged down over issues like Canadian energy, trade, tourism and tariffs, as well as meetings with Canadian premiers, Wu, 40, was in Nova Scotia felling a huge Christmas tree.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 24 Nov. 2025
This year, the Pahang state government has led enforcement operations that involved felling decades-old durian trees and issued eviction notices to farmers, which the farmers have disputed.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Grainier‘s an itinerant lumber man who worked the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century, felling timber and building railroads.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
However, the miniature accessories didn’t seem to stop a group of humans from felling and butchering the elephant.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Oct. 2025
Onscreen, a bridezilla sent an equivalent table soaring through a banquet hall, felling at least one chandelier.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Contessa Brewer,dawn Giel, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025
While Healey, 54, was bogged down over issues like Canadian energy, trade, tourism and tariffs, as well as meetings with Canadian premiers, Wu, 40, was in Nova Scotia felling a huge Christmas tree.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 24 Nov. 2025
This year, the Pahang state government has led enforcement operations that involved felling decades-old durian trees and issued eviction notices to farmers, which the farmers have disputed.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Grainier‘s an itinerant lumber man who worked the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century, felling timber and building railroads.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
However, the miniature accessories didn’t seem to stop a group of humans from felling and butchering the elephant.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Oct. 2025
Onscreen, a bridezilla sent an equivalent table soaring through a banquet hall, felling at least one chandelier.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felling
Verb
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This jaw-dropping arts center also hosts plays, dance performances, classical concerts, and contemporary music gigs by major names such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Björk, New Order, Paul Weller, and Lorde.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Sub-freezing temperatures are expected to linger Friday morning, dropping as low as 20 degrees.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Keep lawns breathable by removing leaves, mowing before winter, and avoiding foot traffic or snow piles.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
28 Jan. 2026
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Work is seasonal by nature — mowing jobs in summer, snow removal in winter.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Also on Tuesday, Indivisible CT is conducting an anti-ICE rally on the state Capitol lawn, taking political aim at a federal agency that has fallen sharply out of public favor after killing two American citizens in Minnesota and roughing up scores of others.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
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The ex-husband of former First Lady Jill Biden, who has been accused of killing his wife late last year, pleaded not guilty in the case during a virtual court appearance on Tuesday.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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See the scene And while a big tent on the beach packed with people downing burgers, drinking tequila or Kim Crawford wine and dancing to a DJ with a soft spot for Bad Bunny is not exactly luxurious, the black truffle remained for this event.—
Connie Ogle
Updated February 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
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The video, leaning into Kennedy's ultra-macho aesthetic, shows him in a man-cave of sorts, working out in blue jeans and downing raw milk.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The firestorm ravaged Pacific Palisades and Altadena, killing 31, destroying more than 16,000 structures and contaminating others with toxins and heavy metals.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Special prosecutors indict Kim Keon Hee and former Prime Minister Han on charges of abetting Yoon’s imposition of martial law, falsifying and destroying official documents and lying under oath.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Bench coach Jeff Pickler, third base coach Andy Gonzalez, first base coach Doug Bernier, assistant hitting coach Jordan Pacheco and Schaeffer all took players aside to point out the nuances of the contact play.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Robert Early Madden, 37, was found guilty by a San Diego Superior Court jury of first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of committing the killing during a robbery for the July 15, 2024, slaying of 38-year-old Senait Legesse.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The series finds Ash Williams — of the original Evil Dead trilogy — living in a trailer park and working as a department store stocker, still haunted by his experiences slaying Deadites three decades earlier.—
Sammi Burke,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The triple-ball design comes preassembled in classic Roman-style planters and looks impressively realistic, according to Amazon reviewers—even moving gracefully in the wind without toppling over.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
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And after significant rainfall soaked the soil during Monday’s storm, trees were particularly vulnerable to toppling during Tuesday night’s strong winds.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Felling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felling. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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