felled

USAGE SUMMARY

"felled" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to cutting down trees or knocking someone down. Example: The lumberjack felled the towering pine tree with a single swing of his axe. Alternative expressions include "cut down" and "knocked down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But for the average dead body, felled by the likes of cancer or heart disease, there is no threat to the living.

The Guardian - Opinion

There were some relatively big MEPs felled in this year's election.

The Guardian

Rain forest clearing is responsible for about 75% of Brazil's emissions as vegetation is burned and felled trees rot.

The Guardian

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, who also wants a referendum on the euro, felled the Rutte government by refusing to back up to €15bn (£12.2bn) in savings to keep the country within the currency bloc's new rules.

The Guardian

Today, both men are long dead, felled in the Aids crisis along with Robert Mapplethorpe, another habituee of the area whose work is also in the show: a monochrone, tattered stars and stripes.

The Guardian - Arts

Simon Gerrans continues to pose a threat - remarkable, given he was felled in the crash that put Mark Cavendish out of the Tour.

The Guardian - Sport

Soward was felled by Pauli in the build-up.

The Guardian - Sport

He confirmed he has had mental turmoil of his own during this series and even this first Ashes century – and his first in Test cricket for almost three years – was far from trouble-free, as he was felled by a Stuart Broad bouncer on 91. Watson needed lengthy treatment but said later: "I got lucky, because it hit me on the muscle, not on the skull.

The Guardian - Sport

That Mr Compaoré was felled by popular protests that arose because of his attempt to outmanoeuvre the constitution may give his peers pause for thought.

The Economist

Since 2008 it has paid Brazil $5 for each tonne of carbon it has avoided emitting by leaving trees standing that, if the previous trend had continued, would have been felled.

The Economist

Yet while security officials have denied that government forces also used guns, the sad truth is that some nine tenths of the 160 people killed since the July 3rd coup have been Islamists, often felled by high-velocity shots to the head and chest.Amid the bitter disagreement, both sides concur in blaming outside forces for stirring up the trouble, and in particular America.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "felled" to add a sense of finality or forcefulness to the action of cutting down or bringing something down. It is often used in more formal or literary contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "felled" when a gentler term like "trimmed" or "pruned" is more appropriate. "Felled" implies a complete cutting down or forceful bringing down, not just a minor adjustment.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "felled" is as a past participle of the verb "fell". It is used to describe something that has been cut down or brought down. Ludwig examples show its use in both literal and figurative contexts, consistent with its function as a descriptive adjective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "felled" functions primarily as a past participle indicating something brought down, either literally or figuratively. Ludwig AI shows its usage is grammatically correct and frequent in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. Related terms include "cut down" and "knocked down", but "felled" often suggests a more decisive action. While generally neutral in register, it's important to reserve its use for situations where a strong impact is intended. With a strong source quality and positive expert rating, "felled" is a reliable and versatile word for conveying the idea of something being brought down with force or finality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cut down

Focuses specifically on the act of cutting something down, often trees, but can also be used metaphorically.

knocked down

Implies bringing something or someone to the ground, often with force.

brought down

Suggests a removal from a position of power or stability.

overthrown

Specifically indicates the forceful removal of a government or leader.

defeated

Indicates a loss in a competition or conflict.

subdued

Implies bringing something under control or suppressing it.

leveled

Suggests making something flat or destroying it completely.

demolished

Emphasizes the complete destruction of something, often a building.

toppled

Indicates a falling over, often due to instability or force.

laid low

Suggests incapacitation or defeat, often due to illness or misfortune.

FAQs

How is "felled" typically used in a sentence?

"Felled" is generally used as a past participle or adjective to describe something that has been cut down or knocked down. For instance, "The tree was felled" or "He was felled by a sudden illness".

What are some synonyms for "felled" in the context of cutting down trees?

Alternatives to "felled" when referring to trees include "cut down", hewed, or chopped down. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can "felled" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "felled" can be used metaphorically to describe someone being brought down by illness, defeat, or misfortune, similar to phrases like "laid low" or "brought down".

Is there a difference between "felled" and "cut down"?

While both terms refer to bringing a tree to the ground, "felled" often carries a more forceful or decisive connotation than "cut down". "Felled" can also be used more broadly to describe something being brought down in a non-literal sense.