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
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Recent Examples of fell
Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
Anderson’s account of the shah in the 1970s is a familiar story of an Icarus-like figure felled by his own hubris.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2025
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025
These classic vacuums are known for their huge dust bin capacities—ideal for cleaning the whole house in one fell swoop—as well as their powerful suction technology.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
This coastal Douglas fir grows in a remnant old-growth stand on the east side of Coos County in Oregon; a state in which most of the largest, oldest trees were felled in the frenzy of logging.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 7 Aug. 2025
Anderson’s account of the shah in the 1970s is a familiar story of an Icarus-like figure felled by his own hubris.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 5 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
These classic vacuums are known for their huge dust bin capacities—ideal for cleaning the whole house in one fell swoop—as well as their powerful suction technology.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
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Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Polish airspace was violated by at least 19 Russian drones overnight, the country's prime minister said, in a torrent of activity that triggered a response from the NATO country's air force, which scrambled and downed several of the drones.—
Will Gretsky,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Avoid heavy foot traffic on the grass and don’t mow it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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Even a person mowing their lawn on a windy day might send embers into the air.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Over the past two months, Texans have used green ribbons with bows to commemorate the lives lost in the July 4 Hill Country flooding, which killed more than 100 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors from Camp Mystic in Hunt.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
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Jerry Jeudy makes far too much money to wreck possessions with two drops, one that killed a drive and another that resulted in a crushing interception.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The most recent execution via firing squad in the United States occurred in South Carolina, where Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed in March, opting for the method instead of the electric chair or lethal injection.—
Amanda Castro
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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While officers in the garage tried to find Cook’s firearm before approaching him, Miller from outside the front of the house gave commands to other officers to retrieve a shield and a 40mm less-lethal projectile launcher, the reports showed.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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There was a time when loving someone of the wrong gender could result in harassment, arrest or a savage beating.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The video, released Thursday night, showed a person running across a rooftop of the building from which the fatal round was fired before climbing down and dropping to the ground.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The researchers found that shelter canines were more active at night and showed higher stress hormone levels shortly after intake, but their activity and stress levels dropped over time—especially after adoption.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Acosta allowed it, and IMG destroyed them.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Later, Howard calls Matt and agrees to cut the sequence but also threatens to destroy him.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the past 48 hours, Nepal has been rocked by deadly mass protests led by young people who are frustrated over the country's leadership.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
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Rip currents are the deadliest of surf-zone dangers, making up the majority of deaths among beach swimmers every year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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