1
as in ridiculing
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 dismissing
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 refuting
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 shooting down
Boyington was a flying ace credited with shooting down 28 Japanese aircraft during the war.
—
Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
So far lawmakers haven’t, slowing, softening and then shooting down a bipartisan measure that would have enlisted the state Department of Agriculture to take on the burgeoning pest.
—Mark Dee
march 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
For now, the Gulf states are focused on defense and shooting down the hundreds of drones and missiles being fired at them.
—CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles were seized at the scene.
—Maria Verza, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, stemmed from the Pentagon’s plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels, according to three people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to share sensitive details.
—Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
What all this boils down to is that even a laser weapon that's already shooting down hostile drones is streets away from one that's officially part of the armory.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
Tisdale French's rep is shooting down the theories percolating online.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Earlier this year, Goodwin began to feel pain shooting down from her shoulder, most likely a consequence of repetitive computer work.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
So far lawmakers haven’t, slowing, softening and then shooting down a bipartisan measure that would have enlisted the state Department of Agriculture to take on the burgeoning pest.
—Mark Dee
march 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
For now, the Gulf states are focused on defense and shooting down the hundreds of drones and missiles being fired at them.
—CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Rocket launchers capable of shooting down aircraft and destroying armored vehicles were seized at the scene.
—Maria Verza, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, stemmed from the Pentagon’s plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels, according to three people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to share sensitive details.
—Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
What all this boils down to is that even a laser weapon that's already shooting down hostile drones is streets away from one that's officially part of the armory.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026
Tisdale French's rep is shooting down the theories percolating online.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Earlier this year, Goodwin began to feel pain shooting down from her shoulder, most likely a consequence of repetitive computer work.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shooting down
Verb
-
The political rhetoric aimed at ridiculing Canada bothers Johnson.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Other potential candidates, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, have achieved fame by berating and ridiculing the other side.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After vacating the conviction, the judge took the additional step of dismissing the murder charge against Martinez, ending the criminal case against him entirely.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Before dismissing this activity or just trying to get through it, recognize your tendency to view nearly everything as a situation from which to extricate yourself as quickly and painlessly as possible.—
Charles Yu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The documentary is already stirring up buzz due to Odom’s recent comments refuting some of the details and recollections from his ex-wife Khloé Kardashian.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Gould had re-released his own book with new material refuting those arguments.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When Suzanna, a fledgling psychologist, tells, at Max’s urging, a mocking anecdote about one of her young clients, neither Becky nor the sensitive Andrew get the laugh.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
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Talkative characters like the froggish Mallow and even Bowser himself are motor-mouthed and sarcastic, nigglingly mocking Mario for his inability to speak in anything other than nods and pantomimes.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In some cases, the frost is severe enough to end the growing season and is then referred to as a 'killing frost'.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Mack was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her mother, while Schaefer, who admitted fatally beating von Wiese-Mack but claimed self defense, received an 18-year prison term.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lamont saved them from themselves by vetoing that grant and several others.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Since taking office last year, Nawrocki has positioned himself as a main opponent of the influential prime minister, repeatedly vetoing laws proposed by the executive.—
Claudia Ciobanu,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 1999, the IRS and the Department of Justice served him with an order requiring him to appear in federal court and explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt for refusing to disclose information about his bank accounts and assets.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
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The new fines will range from $100 up to $1,000 for each offense, including increasing rent, decreasing services or refusing to renew a rental agreement because the tenant has complained about a housing violation in good faith.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shooting down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shooting%20down. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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