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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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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The water-dropping helicopters returned during Friday's flare-up.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
Participation ebbs and flows with the economy, dropping to 35 million in 2019.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Few things feel as satisfying as a cold drink of water after mowing the lawn on a hot afternoon, finishing a tough workout or waking up thirsty in the middle of the night.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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Make American Lawn-mowing Great Again!—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Tom then explains the actual Trolley Problem, the philosophical debate about having to choose whether to pull a lever that will prevent a runaway trolley from killing multiple people, but will still result in the death of a single person.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
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But the Israeli military has yet to fully stop hostilities, killing at least four people in separate strikes Tuesday on Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The Midwest, meanwhile, was recovering from a strong line of storms that tore through parts of Illinois, Indiana and northern Kentucky on Wednesday, bringing possible tornadoes, damaging homes, and downing trees and power lines in the region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
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Parts of Anne Arundel County were thrashed by high winds Friday night as a severe storm rolled through the area, downing trees and causing power outages.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
19 June 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,
19 June 2026
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The purpose of any heat shield is to be sure the extreme temperatures that objects hitting Earth’s atmosphere experience don’t harm the crew or cargo inside the vehicle.—
Margaret Landis,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Kim — who faces murder charges in a 2016 killing in San Jose and a 2018 slaying in Westminster — was flown into Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, booked into the Anaheim city jail, turned over to the San Jose Police Department and then transported to Santa Clara County.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
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When Kostyuk hired Zaniewska, her main experience coaching on the WTA Tour was with Alizé Cornet, the French player with a penchant for slaying top-10 stars at Grand Slams.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Organizing your beddings into groups will also help prevent them from toppling over.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
17 June 2026
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Such pinches have been toppling financial firms for decades.—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Felling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felling. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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