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
Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Little more than an hour later, he would be felled by an assassin’s bullet.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025
David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Investigators say the crew distinguished itself by going to various shopping centers and hitting virtually every store there in one fell swoop.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Verb
Remember that timber stand improvement work can be dangerous, especially when handling chainsaws and felling large trees.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Little more than an hour later, he would be felled by an assassin’s bullet.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
But Trump’s tariffs seek to remake the global economy in one fell swoop.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Investigators say the crew distinguished itself by going to various shopping centers and hitting virtually every store there in one fell swoop.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell
Verb
-
Please send your reports of hail and/or wind damage, including trees or large limbs downed, by calling the National Weather Service office in Newport at 1-800-889-6889.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2025
-
McGhie hit 20 3s in the first round, 21 in the semifinals and 20 in the championship round to defeat Missouri’s Caleb Gill, who downed 15 3s in the title round.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Here's exactly when to start mowing your lawn, depending on your growing conditions and grass type.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Mar. 2025
-
That insulation and humidity retention can improve germination, and the cover can be removed as the new grass approaches mowing height.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Renee Moore worked near the building and relied on its daycare for her 6-month-old son Antonio Cooper Jr., who was among those killed.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Overnight Russian drones and missiles targeted multiple Ukraine cities according to officials there, killing at least two people.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But South Carolina lawmakers saw it as the quickest and most humane way to kill an inmate, especially with the uncertainty in obtaining lethal injection drugs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Mikal Mahdi, 42, chose to be executed by a firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair, according to the Associated Press.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
11 Apr. 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
-
And even with personnel changes, the standard doesn’t drop.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2025
-
After Kev drops that bombshell on Harry, the two laugh over the fact that that's far from the worst thing Conrad has ever done.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, over 100 government offices and other structures have been forced to shut their doors, relocate or have been destroyed.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The gangs have resumed kidnappings, while burning hospitals and destroying schools.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led to the deadly incident.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Law enforcement respond to a deadly shooting at a town house complex in Spotsylvania County, Va., on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share