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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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
-
The Packers finished a season that began with Super Bowl hopes by dropping five in a row.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll midseason after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Chicago Bears, a game in which rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart sustained a concussion, dropping them to 2-8.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a rule of thumb, continue mowing warm-season lawns normally until night temperatures fall consistently below 70°F.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
18 Dec. 2025
-
The standard fit is a single foil shaver, perfect for detailing edges or mowing over stubbled necklines.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The charges relate to his killing Scott Wonoski, 43, a fellow inmate at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater, in 2021.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Those on the right, determined to make the case that this was an officer killing in self-defense, should instead be beginning with this utter failure to protect the life of a civilian protester and de-escalate the situation through some means other than shooting a fellow American in the head.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Patriots have won all of those playoff appearances, downing the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Round in 2007 and 2019, while beating the Chargers in the AFC Championship in 2008.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Cathedral Catholic Girls soccer Collecting two goals and two assists while playing smothering defense, the senior led the Dons to a 2-0-1 record in the Excalibur Tournament, downing Huntington Beach Edison 1-0 in the finale.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By the 1960s, gas flares and untreated waste spillage were destroying their forests.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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And there is a risk of the parasites becoming dormant for years before reactivating and destroying a new cornea.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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After hitting just 4 of 30 threes against the Pacers, Miami opened 4 for 4 from distance, shot 8 for 16 on threes in the first half and finished 17 for 32.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Reeves is currently on Broadway with his Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter, slaying in Waiting for Godot at the Hudson Theatre.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
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Unfortunately, the serial killer known as John Doe is ritualistically slaying victims by turning the seven deadly sins into symbolic, atrocious murders.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The past 25 years have shown that the effects of toppling leaders are difficult to predict and that having more rather than fewer perspectives leads to better outcomes.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Jan. 2026
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But in forcibly toppling an unfriendly leader, the United States changed the rules.—
Richard Fontaine,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Felling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felling. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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