1
as in slaughtering
to kill on a large scale
machine guns mowed down the advancing troops without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in downing
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
the crowd rushing in for the sale mowed down the poor clerks standing at the front entrance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mowing (down)
Verb
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In Jonathan Miles’s novella, a man is tasked with saving an island sanctuary by slaughtering thousands of goats.—
Ron Charles,
Washington Post,
4 Feb. 2026 -
She was convicted and fined five times in French courts of inciting racial hatred, in incidents inspired by her opposition to the Muslim practice of slaughtering sheep during annual religious holidays.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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And instead of—or in addition to—downing a few glasses of Bordeaux, the airline has an in-flight meditation program from Petit BamBou designed to address stress triggers like turbulence.—
Hannah Seligson,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
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While the mere thought of downing eight coffees daily might conjure heart palpitations, caffeine has been at the center of Navratil’s career climb.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Others on the roster are known for their high-flying dunks, jaw-dropping ball-handling or seemingly limitless range.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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And figure skater Ilia Malinin continued redefining the sport, performing a jaw-dropping backflip.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jascoco The cows stampeded into a neighborhood, knocking over mailboxes, trampling fences, and bumping into cars as they were being chased.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Again, the bots were not always gainly—one viral video showed a humanoid veering off a running track and knocking over a human spectator—but the atmosphere was one of dynamism and experimentation.—
James Vincent,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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But when it was first announced, the project was not well-received by some residents, who argued that knocking down five existing apartment complexes to make room for the project could accelerate gentrification.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
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Well, the two-time Eastern Conference rookie of the month is one of only two players in the NBA this season who’s averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game while knocking down at least 42% from 3-point range.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, bitcoin has dropped 50% since hitting a record high above $126,000 in October.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The car collided with the bicyclist before continuing another block and hitting the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market location in the Westwood neighborhood.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Mowing (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mowing%20%28down%29. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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