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
In 2005, British special military units lost 10 personnel when one of their C-130s was shot down outside the city.
—
William H. McRaven, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Braverman shot down the idea of allying with her former party in an interview with the Telegraph.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 26 Jan. 2026
The news comes just months after Shatner shot down reports that he was hospitalized for a major medical emergency.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
The Americans even modified a Boeing 747 to carry a huge experimental and alarmingly dangerous chemical laser designed to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles that was more of a menace to the crew than the missiles.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shoot down
William H. McRaven, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Braverman shot down the idea of allying with her former party in an interview with the Telegraph.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 26 Jan. 2026
The news comes just months after Shatner shot down reports that he was hospitalized for a major medical emergency.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
The Americans even modified a Boeing 747 to carry a huge experimental and alarmingly dangerous chemical laser designed to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles that was more of a menace to the crew than the missiles.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shoot down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoot down
Verb
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But that strange mix of nostalgia and ridicule Shlesinger’s script shows for certain Texas customs (big hair, oversize pickup trucks and bladder-challenging beverage containers)?—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
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The temperature is rising in the Warner Bros Discovery chase, with key figures at Netflix and Paramount ridiculing the other companies’ merger proposals.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, a White House official dismissed speculation.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Continue reading … LEGAL LOOPHOLE – Luigi Mangione returns to court as judge weighs defense motion to dismiss death penalty charge.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Councilmember Ted Bui refuted those concerns and maintained his vocal support of adopting a charter.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
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The lawmakers have refuted those claims, arguing that the probe is an act of political intimidation.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These trees, this graveyard, her walk among them mocked that memory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The president also shared clips of the video on his Truth Social handle, along with posts mocking and attacking Pretti.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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State television reported that Niger's forces responded quickly to the assault early Thursday, killing 20 of the attackers and arresting 11 others.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Banfield took the stand in his own defense, acknowledging the affair with Peres Magalhães that started in August 2022 but denied any plans to kill his wife.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The governor has walked a tightrope on the AI question, vetoing a bill last year that would have put strict limits on how AI chatbots can interact with children, and approving a much narrower proposal.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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This will almost certainly raise costs for nonsmokers—as outgoing governor Glenn Youngkin noted in vetoing the bill last year.—
Judge Glock,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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My comment addressed agitators approaching law enforcement with a gun and refusing to disarm.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Judge Marrus, however, refused to back down.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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 1 Feb. 2026.
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