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
The secretary of defense (Jared Harris) expresses shock that the missile defense system, which cost $50 billion, has just a 50% chance at successfully shooting down the missile — and, indeed, in the film, the system fails to do its job.
—
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
In 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian jet violating its airspace.
—Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
Thompson also shot down complaints that the program has led to more food waste because students aren’t paying for the meals.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
The military has the capability to shoot down warheads, but not at a rate that could combat multiple nukes coming toward us in a large-scale attack.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoot down
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
In 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian jet violating its airspace.
—Kathleen Collins, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
Thompson also shot down complaints that the program has led to more food waste because students aren’t paying for the meals.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
The military has the capability to shoot down warheads, but not at a rate that could combat multiple nukes coming toward us in a large-scale attack.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shoot down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoot down
Verb
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Many skilled bartenders seem to scorn the Bloody Mary, regarding it as unserious and lightweight, just as many in the food world loathe brunch, the meal most often associated with the Bloody Mary, or wine people ridicule Sancerre, seeing it as a fallback order for people who know little about wine.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
28 Oct. 2025
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Evidently the Miami Dolphins didn’t like being mocked and ridiculed all week, nationally by the football media and at home by their own angry fans.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In July 2024, Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial ended by being dismissed with prejudice after his attorneys argued that prosecutors had buried evidence.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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In Monday’s filing, lawyers for Robert Morris and his wife, Debbie Morris, argue Clemishire’s claims should be dismissed in part because the statute of limitations on them have expired.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Together, these women find respite from, and at times refute, perennial patriarchal powers.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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Bovino appeared before Ellis on Tuesday after the plaintiffs accused him of throwing a tear gas canister into a crowd of demonstrators without justification or warning – a characterization DHS has refuted.—
Devan Cole,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Such is the brilliance of Wes Craven’s self-aware spin on serial-killer tropes, which manages to both mock a generation of teenagers raised on the campy likes of Friday the 13th and deliver honest scares in its own right.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
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Following the no-contest between Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, Jones mocked the injured champion with a silent but hilarious move on social media that quickly garnered attention.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Over the course of four months in 1956-57, Israeli forces killed as many as 1,500 Palestinians in Gaza.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Listeria infects about 1,250 people in the United States each year, according to the CDC, and kills about 172.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But even if general manager Brian Cashman is able to orchestrate a trade for Skubal, Klapisch believes principal owner Hal Steinbrenner will veto it over the cost, which could include a $350 million contract extension for the pitcher.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
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North Carolina state legislators last week approved a new congressional map designed to boost Republicans’ chances of picking up a House seat, which the state’s GOP governor does not have the ability to veto.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the union filed a lawsuit in November 2023, alleging that the tribe had refused to select an arbitrator to conduct the card-counting process.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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One teen said Scarr routinely pressured him for oral sex, including in the sanctuary, and threatened to kill himself if the boy refused.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In April, Moody’s revised the rating outlook for Thailand to negative from stable, flagging rising political uncertainty and sustained growth weakness.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
1 Sep. 2025
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On the way to scoring a 25-19, 25-9, 25-4 victory, UW was not blocked once, held the Bobcats to negative hitting in each set and in the final set tied a program record for fewest points allowed in a set.—
Mark Stewart,
Journal Sentinel,
2 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Shoot down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoot%20down. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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