DOWNING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

downing

verb

present participle of down

as in dropping

to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall downed his opponent with one stunning blow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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

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 downing Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Saturday, spawning tornadoes, destroying buildings and downing power lines across the Gulf region. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026 Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Destin as a Category 2 storm on Friday night, bringing wind gusts of more than 110 mph to the Florida Panhandle, downing trees, scattering debris and leaving at least two people dead. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 In southeastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island, New York, gusts could be almost as strong, potentially downing tree limbs and power lines. — Matthew Mulligan, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026 Sustained winds will reach 25–35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph, capable of downing tree limbs and causing power outages. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026 Tornado sirens blare and strong winds cause chaos — downing branches, trees and powerlines, damaging buildings and pulling the roof off houses. — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Sep. 2026 As leaders meet, overnight Russian strikes kill and injure civilians, ignite fires and hit transport and shopping hubs, underscoring the war’s reach even as Moscow touts downing hundreds of Ukrainian drones. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 The object of his attention is Alexander Isak, the striker who left Newcastle for Liverpool a year ago after downing tools and refusing to play and is now back on Tyneside for the first time. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 115 mph, downing palm trees and causing damage to boats and buildings. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for downing

Verb

After dropping three of his first four games to Kansas starting in 1989, his teams won the next 11.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Indeed, far-right leader Marine Le Pen has vowed to roll back the official retirement age to 62 and even previously suggested dropping it to as low as 60.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of dropping

Verb

In the spring summer, the space extends to a patio outside, called Dehors, perfect for sipping on Campari spritzes and watching the bustle of Milan go by.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
That's because the path is now clear on all drinking, sipping, chugging and shotgunning beverages in the NFL.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sipping

Verb

Department of Defense Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael addressed Luckey's involvement with the Pentagon in comments to CNBC on Tuesday, dismissing any concerns about a potential conflict of interest.

— Samantha Subin, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Vance’s comments last week came in response to Cruz openly discussing a potential 2028 run and dismissing a question about whether the vice president had already locked down the party’s nomination with two years to go.

— Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Verb

Opponents worry that the changes would mean less money getting invested in rural housing, precisely when housing affordability issues are hitting those areas the hardest.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
The look is solid, smart, elegant, hitting a summer sweet spot that means guests come back again and again.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hitting

Verb

By institutional convention, such a show would unfold chronologically; but as its curator, the Native designer Brian Johnson, notes, time is a snake swallowing its own tail.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
The Medicare Advantage and D-SNP list drops authorization for speech and language treatment, group speech treatment, swallowing dysfunction and spinal chiropractic manipulation.

— JP Montoya, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of swallowing

Verb

Authorities are investigating what led a 16-year-old shooter to force entry into his former elementary school in Bend, Oregon, and fire into a special needs classroom on Thursday, killing three children and a young teacher.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Over the next seven years, Saudi Arabia carried out waves of airstrikes against the Houthis, often killing civilians.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of killing

Verb

For the Houthis, success on the battlefield doesn’t require toppling Saudi Arabia; disrupting the Saudi economy and sowing fear within its society may be enough to give the Houthis leverage in any possible negotiations to end the fighting.

— NBC news, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
But further strengthening is unlikely due to a roadblock of storm-toppling wind shear set up just off the northern coast.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026