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
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
Despite shooting down any suggestions of infidelity, she’s continued to field the questions and comments, responding politely to the seemingly never-ending queries.
—Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Taylor quipped, referencing Kylie shooting down a drunken idea of Jason's.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
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
Despite shooting down any suggestions of infidelity, she’s continued to field the questions and comments, responding politely to the seemingly never-ending queries.
—Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Taylor quipped, referencing Kylie shooting down a drunken idea of Jason's.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shooting down
Verb
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Trump has also criticized President Obama’s Nobel Prize, ridiculing it during a 2020 rally.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Bianco has repeatedly made public comments ridiculing the relatives of the dead.—
Christopher Damien,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a result of the investigation, embassy officials decided not to renew the employee’s contract, effectively dismissing him.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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The appellate court last year reversed Martínez-Olguín’s initial case dismissal, leading to the judge dismissing it again.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Health experts and medical organizations are refuting claims of a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
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Barrett himself previously addressed the rumors surrounding his time off, refuting any suggestion that he had been removed from his position.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Authoritarians historically come for the comics first, and most recently under Putin, satirist Idrak Mirzalizade was jailed and deported for mocking Russian housing.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
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Brian stumbles back to his father’s tent, where an angry Simon takes his frustration over Uncle Mac’s mocking out on his son.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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The emergency services Loeb was hearing were headed to the nearby Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, where an assailant rammed a car into people before stabbing several members of the community, killing two.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Democrats, on Tuesday, also asked the White House to commit to vetoing any legislation passed to raise the age of eligibility for Social Security and to divulge whether officials have discussed changing the requirement, among other topics.—
Sophia Vento,
The Hill,
30 Sep. 2025
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In exchange, China has protected the junta by vetoing tougher sanctions at the United Nations and other international forums.—
Dan Swift,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Defend Our Juries remained defiant, refusing to cancel the protest.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Maura is marvelous stomping around the apartment in a cold fury and refusing to speak to Clara, who proceeds regardless with broker negotiations and brings in antiques dealer Abslam (Ahmed Boulane) to buy up the contents.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shooting down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shooting%20down. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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