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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.

RAF planes have also taken part in missions to shoot down Iranian drones.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

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

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

I saw a soldier shoot down a practice drone after a few misses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

It’s expensive to shoot down a $40,000 drone with a $4 million interceptor missile.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

Raisa managed to shoot down the bomber herself.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein