1
as in ridiculed
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 dismissed
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 refuted
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 shot down
The attempt to replace Meyer was ultimately shot down and the executive board released a statement distancing itself from Marino, but the incident highlighted the union’s factioning.
—
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Five days later, a passenger plane, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, was mistaken for an incoming cruise missile and was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing all 176 people on board.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
More recently, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian defenses in December 2024 and crashed in Kazakhstan.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down at least 43 Ukrainian drones overnight.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Robert Goodman from a Syrian prison after his plane was shot down in the Middle East.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Eden’s production company, Donna and Shula Productions, quickly shot down rumors that her death was caused by Iran in some way.
—Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Files released by the Justice Department last week show Epstein had drafted notes to and about the billionaire, suggesting Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs, although representatives for Gates have repeatedly shot down the allegations.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
During the sentencing hearing, Roth attempted to argue that the gun was never fired and no one was ever harmed, but Cannon shot down each argument.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Five days later, a passenger plane, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, was mistaken for an incoming cruise missile and was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, killing all 176 people on board.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
More recently, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian defenses in December 2024 and crashed in Kazakhstan.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down at least 43 Ukrainian drones overnight.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Robert Goodman from a Syrian prison after his plane was shot down in the Middle East.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Eden’s production company, Donna and Shula Productions, quickly shot down rumors that her death was caused by Iran in some way.
—Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Files released by the Justice Department last week show Epstein had drafted notes to and about the billionaire, suggesting Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs, although representatives for Gates have repeatedly shot down the allegations.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
During the sentencing hearing, Roth attempted to argue that the gun was never fired and no one was ever harmed, but Cannon shot down each argument.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shot down
Verb
-
The move was ridiculed by lawyers outside Paul Weiss, and more than 140 alums of the firm signed a letter assailing it as well.—
Meg Kinnard,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And for that, he was ridiculed.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The additional charges were dismissed.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Obama dismissed those rumors, joking that if aliens existed and were being concealed, even the president was not in on it.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At that point, the labor group accused the WGA West of unfair labor practices and negotiating in bad faith, allegations that the WGA West refuted.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman refuted that, however.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
How about the woman, believed to be a Chicago Public Schools teacher, who mocked Charlie Kirk’s assassination by using her hand like a gun and putting it to her neck?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Some also mocked the add-on fees, including higher charges for larger items.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But seething popular anger has not abated in the weeks following a government crackdown that killed thousands of protesters, according to accounts from inside the country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Silas, 29, and Tishauna Ballard, 24, were killed; two others were injured.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Renewables soar globally despite US climate pullback Renewables are being deployed aggressively across much of the world even as the US, historically the world’s biggest emitter, overturned a landmark domestic climate ruling.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Don’t expect Braves starting pitcher and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale to ask for a ball or strike call to be overturned.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump subsequently condemned the image but refused to apologize.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Prior to her death, Phillips had refused meals over multiple days while in the Tarrant County Jail.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the Democratic governor has vetoed others with a broader approach, such as a bill including more mandates about how the technology must work and requirements to disclose its use to regulators, clinicians, and patients upon request.—
Darius Tahir,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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If Kelly vetoed the legislation, a veto override would take the support of two-thirds of lawmakers in each chamber — a threshold the Senate fell well short of on Wednesday.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shot down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shot%20down. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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