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
Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Apartment buildings were felled by air strikes, and smoke billowed from the blasts; the buzz of Israeli drones filled the air.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2018, Hamid and Fushman instituted a new scout fund precisely to solve this problem, hastening the decision process at Kleiner from weeks to days in one fell swoop.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
In Greek tragedies, the hero is felled by a fatal flaw.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Apartment buildings were felled by air strikes, and smoke billowed from the blasts; the buzz of Israeli drones filled the air.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Open shelves add functionality, warmth, and impart a sense of architecture in one fell swoop.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2018, Hamid and Fushman instituted a new scout fund precisely to solve this problem, hastening the decision process at Kleiner from weeks to days in one fell swoop.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Birdville downs rival Richland Matthew Moore allowed 1 earned run while scattering 2 hits across 5 innings to lead North Richland Hills Birdville past North Richland Hills Richland 3-2 in a District 6-5A showdown on Tuesday night at Richland High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The grass is freshly mowed, the dirt and chalk lines finely groomed.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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The commission agreed to allow Earthrise to mow the property only once between May and October, rather than five times as required by statute, as the company said more mowings could negatively affect native pollinators and habitats.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities allege her husband, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen, killed her with a shotgun.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
They get captured by Hungarian gangsters and have to fight (and kill) their way out of an inn run by a shady former dance prodigy (Uma Thurman).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The planned execution of Thomas Creech in 2024 could not be carried out because a suitable vein could not be found to administer lethal drugs.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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The punishment stipulated under the new law is death by hanging, after the Israeli Medical Association's ethics board said last year that its members would be prohibited from administering lethal injections, according to Israeli media.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The loss of books is minor, almost trivial, in light of all the horrors and violence unleashed by this senseless war, but the potential loss of these books is a sad reminder that we’re all affected and implicated in America’s savage flailings.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Conan O'Brien hit almost every note on Sunday — savage, playful, heartfelt and dumb.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Look for signage directing you to an ADA shuttle that will be available to pick you up at the Miami Intermodal Center and drop you off at Nu Stadium.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Twins’ center fielder immediately dropped his bat, hopped up and down and walked straight off the field and into the tunnel leading to the clubhouse.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Later, a fire at Hall’s grandmother’s house would destroy most of his magic act.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This time around, in that first wave of strikes on February 28, American cruise missiles targeted and destroyed a building that ended up being a girls’ school—killing more than 168 young children who had just started their day of classes.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
State inspectors had never once visited the Esparto facility before the deadly blast; that responsibility fell only to local authorities, until now.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Are all fungi dangerous or deadly?—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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