Definitions

shoot down

VERB

assault

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abuse invade rape violate

STRONG

advance assail bash beset blast blitz bushwhack charge jump ruin slam storm strike trash zap

WEAK

come down on go for haul off on jump down one's throat jump on one's case lay into let have it light into set upon slap around work over

Antonyms

STRONG

decrease praise retreat

VERB

attack

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abuse blame criticize

STRONG

berate blitz censure impugn malign refute reprove revile stretch vilify

WEAK

jump down one's throat jump on one's case lay into

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve commend compliment praise

STRONG

endorse sanction

WEAK

aid be lazy defend protect resist retreat shelter shield slough off submit support surrender sustain withstand

VERB

belittle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

criticize decry deride discredit disparage downplay scorn underestimate

STRONG

deprecate depreciate derogate diminish discount downgrade knock lower minimize pan rip roast slam smear trivialize underrate undervalue

WEAK

bad-mouth cut down to size cut to the quick dispraise dump on pooh pooh poor-mouth put down run down scoff at shoot full of holes sneer at take a swipe at take down take down a peg tear down write off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve commend compliment flatter laud praise

STRONG

enlarge increase overestimate overrate overvalue raise upgrade

WEAK

build up exaggerate value

VERB

best

Synonyms

STRONGEST

beat blank conquer outclass outdo outshine overcome surpass take care of trounce

STRONG

KO better blast bulldoze clobber cream deck drub exceed excel flax floor get the better of lambaste lick master outstrip prevail tan thrash top total transcend trash triumph wallop wax whip whomp whop wipe

WEAK

beat up knock off let have it put away shut down take down triumph over waste wipe out wipe the floor with zap

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fail forfeit lose retreat surrender yield

STRONG

be inferior fall behind uphold

WEAK

give up relent

VERB

bring down

Synonyms

WEAK

KO abase cut down damage drop fell floor injure knock down lay low level lower mow down murder overthrow overturn prostrate pull down slay throw down tumble undermine upset wound

Antonyms

WEAK

aid encourage help raise

VERB

debase

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cheapen demean demoralize disgrace dishonor humiliate

STRONG

abase corrupt debauch debilitate deprave devaluate devalue disable enfeeble humble lower reduce sap sink undermine weaken

WEAK

bemean cast down drag down dump on fluff off put away put down take down take down a peg

Antonyms

STRONGEST

boost enhance esteem honor upgrade

STRONG

aid assist build up cleanse dignify enable grow help improve increase invigorate praise purify raise rise strengthen

WEAK

clean clear elevate laud value

VERB

deflate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disconcert mortify

STRONG

chasten dash debunk dispirit humble

WEAK

cut down to size kick in the teeth knock down let down easy let wind out of sails puncture balloon put down take down

Antonyms

STRONG

aid assist encourage help

WEAK

blow up boost build up expand inflate

VERB

degrade

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cheapen corrupt debase degenerate demean deteriorate diminish discredit disgrace downgrade impair lessen reduce vitiate weaken

STRONG

abase belittle bench break bump bust canker debauch decry demote depose deprave derogate detract disbar dishonor disparage humble injure lower pan pervert sink slam

WEAK

bemean cast down cut down to size declass mudsling put down rule out run down take down take down a peg tear down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist develop enhance enlarge expand extend grow help honor improve increase praise purify raise strengthen upgrade

STRONG

build up compliment exalt fix flatter laud mend promote rise

WEAK

admire approve elevate

VERB

eradicate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish annihilate eliminate erase expunge exterminate extinguish stamp out uproot weed out wipe out

STRONG

abate demolish deracinate efface extirpate liquidate obliterate off purge raze scratch scrub squash torpedo total trash waste

WEAK

blot out do away with mow down root out rub out take out unroot wash out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build create ratify

STRONG

construct keep schedule set up

WEAK

aid assist establish fix help institute plant

VERB

explode

Synonyms

STRONG

belie confute debunk deflate discard disprove invalidate puncture refute repudiate

WEAK

shoot full of holes

Antonyms

STRONG

approve attest build up endorse prove validate

WEAK

implode

VERB

fell

Synonyms

STRONGEST

drop flatten raze shoot slash tumble

STRONG

cleave cut dash demolish down floor gash ground hack hew level mangle prostrate rive sever split sunder

WEAK

blow down bowl over bring down cause to fall cut down knock down knock over lay low mow down pull down strike down throw down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

raise

STRONG

aid assist build combine construct help join unite

WEAK

erect

VERB

humiliate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confuse crush degrade demean depress disgrace humble shame snub subdue

STRONG

abase abash base blister break chagrin chasten confound conquer debase denigrate deny discomfit discountenance dishonor downplay lower mortify pan rip slam smear squash vanquish wither

WEAK

bemean bring down bring low cast down cut down to size make a fool of make ashamed play down put out of countenance put to shame run down take down take down a peg tear down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build up encourage honor praise promote release respect upgrade

STRONG

agree allow boost cherish compliment elevate fail flatter laud lose surrender yield

VERB

immobilize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cripple debilitate disable disarm impair incapacitate mangle mutilate paralyze shatter

STRONG

action attenuate batter blunt damage disenable disqualify enervate enfeeble exhaust hamstring harm hock hurt invalidate kibosh maim mar muzzle pinion prostrate ruin sabotage sap spoil total unbrace undermine unfit weaken wreck

WEAK

hogtie knock out put out of action render incapable take out throw monkey wrench in unstrengthen

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid allow assist cure fix help mend mobilize strengthen

STRONG

animate assuage benefit build grow heal improve increase invigorate permit please repair soothe

VERB

obliterate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annihilate black out eliminate eradicate erase expunge exterminate knock out obscure ravage smash wash out wipe out

STRONG

ax bog cancel cover cut defeat delete efface extirpate finish kill level liquidate nix off scratch scrub sink squash torpedo total trash waste zap

WEAK

KO X out blot out blue pencil do in finish off knock off mark out root out rub off rub out take apart take out wipe off face of earth

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add aid assist bear build create fix help revive

STRONG

begin construct initiate keep leave alone save schedule set up start

VERB

oppugn

Synonyms

STRONG

argue attack contradict controvert criticize debate

WEAK

call into question take issue

Antonyms

STRONG

agree approve harmonize

VERB

refute

Synonyms

STRONGEST

contradict counter disprove expose oppose quash rebut repudiate squelch

STRONG

abnegate break burn cancel confute contend contravene convict crush debate demolish disclaim dispute evert explode gainsay invalidate negate overthrow parry silence top

WEAK

argue against blow sky-high burn down cancel out disconfirm dispose of give the lie to give thumbs down to reply to shoot full of holes show up take a stand against tear down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agree aid allow approve assist concede help support

STRONG

concur endorse fix give in go along lose permit prove release surrender uphold yield

WEAK

ratify sanction

VERB

reject

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deny dismiss rebuff refuse renounce repudiate scrap spurn turn down veto

STRONG

burn cashier chuck decline despise disallow disbelieve discard discount discredit disdain eliminate exclude jettison jilt kill nix repel reprobate repulse scoff scorn scout second shed shun slough

WEAK

cast aside cast off cast out give thumbs down to not buy pass by pass on pass up put down throw away throw out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

OK accept admit agree allow approve grant keep sanction welcome

STRONG

admire attract believe include increase like love praise take on trust

WEAK

choose ratify

VERB

repeal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish abrogate annul cancel dismantle invalidate lift nullify rescind reverse revoke set aside void wipe out withdraw

STRONG

KO backpedal blow countermand kill nix recall renege scrub vacate zap

WEAK

X out back out call off opt out stand down throw over wash out weasel out worm out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow approve build enforce establish institute keep legalize permit ratify sanction support uphold validate

WEAK

enact pass

VERB

scarify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

slap down

STRONG

attack blister castigate damn excoriate flay lambaste lash pan scorch scourge slash vilify

WEAK

burn someone's ears crawl all over lash into pin someone's ears back put someone on the griddle put someone on the hot seat rake over the coals read the riot act to rip into scathe

Antonyms

STRONG

compliment laud mend praise protect

VERB

scathe

Synonyms

STRONG

attack blister damn lash pan scorch score scourge slap slash

WEAK

burn someone's ears castigate crawl all over drub excoriate flay lambaste lash into pin someone's ears back put someone on the griddle put someone on the hot seat rake over the coals read the riot act to rip into scarify vilify

Antonyms

STRONG

mend praise protect

VERB

shame

Synonyms

STRONGEST

debase discredit dishonor humiliate mortify reproach ridicule

STRONG

abash blot confound defile degrade disconcert humble smear stain

WEAK

cut down to size give a black eye take down take down a peg

Antonyms

STRONGEST

credit elevate flatter honor laud praise upgrade

STRONG

clean promote

WEAK

be proud regard respect

VERB

slam

Synonyms

STRONGEST

slap

STRONG

attack castigate damn excoriate flay lambaste pan scathe scourge slash vilify

WEAK

lash into

Antonyms

STRONG

compliment laud praise protect

WEAK

flatter

VERB

veto

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deny refuse reject rule out turn down

STRONG

ban blackball burn cut decline defeat disallow disapprove discountenance forbid interdict kill negate negative nix pass prohibit

WEAK

give thumbs down not go for pass by pass on put down throw away throw out thumbs-down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

OK accept allow approve grant sanction

STRONG

aid help lose permit

WEAK

ratify

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ten years ago, these reanimation stunts were nutty and obscure enough to shoot down with ease.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

Navy has been unable to resolve—like cheap drones that can swarm past warships designed to shoot down planes and missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

In Iran, they are most likely to have been involved in Defensive Counter Air roles to shoot down Iranian drones and cruise missiles.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

It can shoot down short and medium-range ballistic missiles, using hit-to-kill technology.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

The Po-2s didn’t usually fly in daylight because their slow speed made them easy for enemy aircraft to chase and shoot down.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

shoot down

Example Sentences

Related Words