1
as in dropping
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
downed his opponent with one stunning blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in sipping
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat
downing slices of pizza and guzzling bottles of soda
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dismissing
to reject by or as if by a vote
all attempts to ban indoor smoking had been downed by the town council
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downing
While Russia appears to have been much less successful in downing drones – many videos show drones cruising towards and into targets with no sign of opposition – the mobile fire groups are clearly having some effect.
—
David Hambling, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The cost of action The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last year, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 2 May 2026
As the sun sets, the fruit bats swoop among the trees as couples and young families lounge on large poolside cabanas, downing languid cocktails and listening to live guitar strums before heading for a casual dinner.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
In Georgia alone, 13,954 square miles of forest land was hit by Hurricane Helene, downing more than 26 million tons of pine and 30 million tons of hardwood, according to a November 2024 University of Georgia and Georgia Forestry Commission timber damage assessment.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
While the 9-9-9 Challenge has fans downing nine hot dogs and nine beers in nine innings, the Flyers kicked off their home postseason slate with the Philly Hat Trick Challenge.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
These winds will be capable of snapping tree branches and downing power lines.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
After downing the Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night at State Farm Arena, the Hawks will bypass the Play-In Tournament for the first time since 2021.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Winds exceeding 50 mph can cause major damage, downing trees and power lines, and sending debris flying dangerously.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
David Hambling, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
The cost of action The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last year, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 2 May 2026
As the sun sets, the fruit bats swoop among the trees as couples and young families lounge on large poolside cabanas, downing languid cocktails and listening to live guitar strums before heading for a casual dinner.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
In Georgia alone, 13,954 square miles of forest land was hit by Hurricane Helene, downing more than 26 million tons of pine and 30 million tons of hardwood, according to a November 2024 University of Georgia and Georgia Forestry Commission timber damage assessment.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
While the 9-9-9 Challenge has fans downing nine hot dogs and nine beers in nine innings, the Flyers kicked off their home postseason slate with the Philly Hat Trick Challenge.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
These winds will be capable of snapping tree branches and downing power lines.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
After downing the Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night at State Farm Arena, the Hawks will bypass the Play-In Tournament for the first time since 2021.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Winds exceeding 50 mph can cause major damage, downing trees and power lines, and sending debris flying dangerously.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downing
Verb
-
Philadelphia will hit 90° as soon as Monday and rise to 93° on Tuesday before dropping to a more manageable 88° on Wednesday.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
And the data show that this is also benefiting solar power, with the impact of aerosols dropping over the last few years.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Can that happen while holed up in a luxury resort, sipping coffee and watching whales from the balcony?—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
-
Fans feeling the vapors here can loll about in actual lounge chairs while sipping their cocktails and viewing play on a big screen.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Verb
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However, not all analysts are dismissing that news that quickly.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
Fox also erred in not dismissing attempts by Magness and Lee Watson to intervene in the lawsuit, the attorney general’s office claimed, saying neither has standing to take part in the litigation, since they aren’t named as defendants in the case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Kay, meanwhile, rebounded after a first inning filled with traffic — two singles and hitting a batter with a pitch — to top his previous career high of 5 2/3 innings.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
As Kelsey Luderer rounded third base and headed home Thursday after hitting a game-tying home run that ignited Sherman Oaks Notre Dame to a 6-3 Division 1 softball playoff win over Anaheim Canyon, she was greeted by every teammate at the plate.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Second, foundational models are swallowing the application layer.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Hundreds of pages of incident reports paint a disturbing picture — a 12-year-old convulsing after apparently swallowing an unknown object, a 15-year-old cutting a large gash in her arm with pieces of a broken toilet, residents stabbing staffers with wooden shards from a broken bed frame.—
Samantha Rappaport,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Is God Is is a story about twin sisters Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson), tasked with killing their abusive, absentee father at the request of their mother.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
19 May 2026
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Such toppling energy may be necessary for Ionesco’s vision to spontaneously ignite into antic life.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Dash camera video from inside the truck shows the moment of impact and appears to show the truck toppling onto its side.—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The new ranch comes with a coffee-drinking porch (mandatory), but it is weathered, rustic and needs work.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
She was killed when Hoang and a group of friends went out drinking and decided to rob homes in the Port Arthur area, the agency said.—
Kelsie Cairns,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downing. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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