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
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
It has also been accused of a series of serious NATO airspace violations by Russian drones and fighter jets, fueling discussions among allies about shooting down the aircraft.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Despite neither triggering a NATO response nor shooting down the drones, Denmark is still mulling a possible response to the sightings.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
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
It has also been accused of a series of serious NATO airspace violations by Russian drones and fighter jets, fueling discussions among allies about shooting down the aircraft.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Despite neither triggering a NATO response nor shooting down the drones, Denmark is still mulling a possible response to the sightings.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shooting down
Verb
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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
-
Humiliating him would be like ridiculing the queen to her face.—
Roger Bennett,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Despite the extraordinary decision, Mejia remained in custody while the case returned to Travis County — where was convicted and sentenced to life in prison — for the final legal step of dismissing the charges.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
-
In February, Judge Arun Subramanian handed down a summary judgment dismissing that claim.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the company is refuting the claims.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But Kennedy was equally as defiant and doubled down on his stance, strongly refuting the allegations directed towards him.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, who wasn’t even a first round pick in several mock drafts in January, is now routinely being projected for the top 12, with longtime analyst Dane Brugler mocking him 11th to Miami in his draft this week for the Athletic.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
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This might be the first time a film opens in theaters attached to a trailer for another movie mocking its franchise.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Three glide bombs struck the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, killing four people, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Vadym Filashkin, said Tuesday.—
HANNA ARHIROVA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2001, Ryan made the surprise move of vetoing legislation that aimed to guarantee motorcyclists the right to use hotels, restaurants and stores.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
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Tommy Thompson, a deep-sea explorer who spent more than a decade in federal custody for refusing to disclose the location of a cache of gold coins from a historic shipwreck, was released from prison.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Tommy Thompson, a research scientist who was imprisoned for a decade after refusing to disclose where an 1800s shipwreck's gold coins were being stored, was released, according to federal Bureau of Prisons records.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shooting down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shooting%20down. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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