1
as in to ridicule
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter
nowadays the aging activist is routinely shot down in most quarters of the media and dismissed as an irrelevant crank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dismiss
to reject by or as if by a vote
every one of my fund-raising ideas was shot down by the other club members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to refute
to prove to be false
the results of several studies shoot down the hypothesis that coffee causes heart attacks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shoot down
Vouchers and investments in public school funding were inextricably linked after Abbott in 2023 pledged to shoot down any education funding increases that the Legislature passed before approving his signature voucher legislation.
—
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Ukraine’s air defense systems reportedly shot down 309 UAVs and two Kh-101 cruise missiles.
—Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025
Most of those new taxes would have needed, and would still need, state approval, and Gov. JB Pritzker along with numerous lawmakers quickly shot down the Johnson tax-bonanza agenda.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
Reps for Phil Collins are shooting down rumors that the legendary rocker is in hospice care amid declining health.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoot down
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Ukraine’s air defense systems reportedly shot down 309 UAVs and two Kh-101 cruise missiles.
—Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025
Most of those new taxes would have needed, and would still need, state approval, and Gov. JB Pritzker along with numerous lawmakers quickly shot down the Johnson tax-bonanza agenda.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
Reps for Phil Collins are shooting down rumors that the legendary rocker is in hospice care amid declining health.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoot down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoot down
Verb
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The cancellation of The Late Show comes just a few days after Colbert ridiculed CBS’ parent company Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
18 July 2025
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While exiting the court, Cousins was ridiculed by fans, with many of them waving goodbye.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Boston Magazine reported that during her training she was ultimately dismissed for administering opiates without a doctor’s order and leaving her shift early.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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Bond's attorneys filed a lawsuit against the unnamed accuser, and the suit was ultimately dismissed.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Several of Gupta’s accounts of the night are being refuted by authorities and the public.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
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Newhouse refuted the notion that people were going to lose access to health care.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The event’s host, the actress Florence Foresti, openly mocked the movie’s prominence there.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
14 Aug. 2025
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Protestors were seen holding banners and placards expressing their frustration about Vance and the wider U.S. administration, as well as mocking the vice president.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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All of those fatal wrecks came after a weekend head-on crash on Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek killed a 16-year-old Mount Diablo High student.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
16 Aug. 2025
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Ukraine launched an attack on Russia on Thursday, killing at least one person and injuring over a dozen more — a day before the high-stakes meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The only other state that gives its governor the power to veto parole grants is Oklahoma, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.—
Taylor Romine,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
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An appeals court stopped Breyer’s decision, saying the governor did not have the authority to veto Trump’s order to deploy California National Guard troops.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Agencies refused to release Neal’s autopsy and the Florida Highway Patrol’s report of the crash, and the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office had declined to comment on whether further charges are pending.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
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While many rideshare companies refuse to pay affiliate commissions, Obi has built a parallel revenue stream via a data business selling anonymized, aggregated insights.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Confusion reigned, and so on Friday, the stock went from positive to negative to deeply negative in a matter of hours.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
2 Feb. 2025
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Travelers also need to negative COVID-19 test within one day of flying to return to the United States.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
7 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Shoot down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoot%20down. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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