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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
a once-mighty nation conquered by a fell and barbarous enemy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fell
William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
In reality, what felled her was not just one gangster’s greed but an entire organization’s—the inheritors of Rothstein’s operation—zeroing in on a mom-and-pop, or at least a mom, business, as big enterprises always do.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
Our tester was impressed with the immediate fuzz-free benefits, citing that the wax strips removed all of their upper lip hair in one fell swoop and noted that the hair seemed to grow a lot slower with this method than others.
—Jennifer Chan, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Trees must be felled with dangerous and expensive equipment, dragged up muddy and steep slopes with cables, cut into lengths, loaded onto trucks and hauled.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
In reality, what felled her was not just one gangster’s greed but an entire organization’s—the inheritors of Rothstein’s operation—zeroing in on a mom-and-pop, or at least a mom, business, as big enterprises always do.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Colleen began building from there, fashioning both her first-ever custom look and first wedding dress in one fell swoop.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
Our tester was impressed with the immediate fuzz-free benefits, citing that the wax strips removed all of their upper lip hair in one fell swoop and noted that the hair seemed to grow a lot slower with this method than others.
—Jennifer Chan, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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However, there were 36 active hunters left, so only 1 out of every 12 would down a buck.—
Chester Chatfield,
Outdoor Life,
20 Aug. 2025
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Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces downed at least 24 Ukrainian drones overnight.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In addition, members enjoy that regular maintenance like mowing the grass, snow removal, or even changing light bulbs is taken care of for them.—
Steve Jahnke,
Kansas City Star,
21 Aug. 2025
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Tomorrow, a household robot might be mowing your lawn, folding your laundry and troubleshooting your home’s electrical systems.—
Erik Jost,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The other two students who were killed were Mogen’s childhood best friend Kaylee Goncalves and Chapin’s girlfriend, Xana Kernodle.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Aug. 2025
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The importance of flood insurance and homeowners insurance was underscored this summer when deadly flash floods killed dozens in central Texas.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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The true key to the film’s success is Ronan herself, who perfectly balances deadly precision with emotional vulnerability—childlike in curiosity but lethal in execution.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Inflation dropped sharply from its 2022 peak, but the Fed never got the rate down to two percent.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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With 9:05 in the second quarter, Benbrook would commit a costly mistake when the ball was dropped during a punt, and Castleberry immediately recovered the ball and later scored.—
Dylan Craver,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Their job was to destroy the Amazon to make room for raising cattle.—
Terrence McCoy The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
31 Aug. 2025
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If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Both are incredibly venomous and deadly, but the Coral snake has more neurotoxic venom on a drop-for-drop basis.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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The suspect in the deadly shooting Friday, Aug. 22 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit was taken into custody early Saturday morning, according to the Detroit Police Department.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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