1
as in to down
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
a champion boxer who was shockingly felled in the first round
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to mow
to bring down by cutting
the settlers began the daunting task of felling the mighty trees that blanketed the island
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
the quest for a cure for malaria, the disease that felled so many during the digging of the Panama Canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
planning for the distribution of resources in case of some fell event
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
a once-mighty nation conquered by a fell and barbarous enemy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fell
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
Nick Bosa believes is the best back in the NFL.
McCaffrey, felled by bilateral Achilles tendinitis for the first eight games of the season, has gone right back into the lineup with his usual workload a year after rushing for 1,459 yards, catching 56 passes for 564 more.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2024
Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Feb. 2025
All three of those have to work and in one fell swoop in order to do that.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
The aftermath felled us; my daughter became hyper-vigilant—any sound was a threat to her and our family.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
Nick Bosa believes is the best back in the NFL.
McCaffrey, felled by bilateral Achilles tendinitis for the first eight games of the season, has gone right back into the lineup with his usual workload a year after rushing for 1,459 yards, catching 56 passes for 564 more.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Next, use the stainless steel rocker press to mince multiple cloves in one fell swoop.
—Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Feb. 2025
All three of those have to work and in one fell swoop in order to do that.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
Alabama has also downed South Carolina (88-68), No. 10 Texas A&M (94-88), No. 8 Kentucky (102-97), and No. 14 Mississippi State (88-84) on the road.—
Tom Murphy,
arkansasonline.com,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Garnett couldn’t get past No. 7 Dylan Frazier in the quarters, but No. 3 seed Hunter Johnson was fairly unstoppable at this event, downing top singles players Noe Khlif, Quang Duong, and then Frazier to reach the gold medal match for the fifth time since September.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Workers will now mow less frequently and have less regular maintenance of Yuba City’s downtown district.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Then, prune overgrown trees and shrubs, trim tall grasses and weedy areas, mow regularly to keep your lawn cut close, and consider calling a chimney sweep to clean out your chimney.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The dismissals come less than three weeks after a midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter killed 67 people and brought new scrutiny to air traffic controllers and their workloads.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Bailey was sentenced to 30 years in prison for conspiring to kill Brach.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Ford, 64, is set to be executed by lethal injection after being on death row for more than two decades for the 1997 murders of Gregory and Kimberly Malnory, who were in their mid-20s.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Richard Tabler shared his final words before he was executed by lethal injection in Texas on Thursday.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
-
The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
Verb
-
But Ayala was immediately dropped from the case and was replaced by his direct supervisor, T. Michael Morgan, Esq.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
19 Feb. 2025
-
After implementing virtual queues for some of its other popular attractions, including Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney has also dropped those queues and the rides now have standby queue options.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Baldoni countersued, accusing Lively, Reynolds and Sloane of seeking to destroy his career.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Many other belongings from his tomb are believed to have been relocated due to the flooding that destroyed it.—
Francesca Aton for ArtNews,
Robb Report,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In exchange, Israel has released hundreds of prisoners and detainees, ranging from prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks to Palestinians detained during the war and held without charge.—
James Mackenzie, Emily Rose,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
-
However, the 64-year-old's girlfriend, Rain Hannah Andreani, 43, and her friend were rushed to hospital following the deadly smash, and one of the two pilots on board was killed.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share