STRIKE DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does strike down mean? 

• STRIKE DOWN (verb)
  The verb STRIKE DOWN has 3 senses:

1. declare null and void; make ineffective

2. cause to die, especially suddenly

3. cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

  Familiarity information: STRIKE DOWN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRIKE DOWN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Declare null and void; make ineffective

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

cancel; strike down

Context example:

strike down a law

Hypernyms (to "strike down" is one way to...):

adjudge; declare; hold (declare to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike down"):

annul; countermand; lift; overturn; repeal; rescind; reverse; revoke; vacate (cancel officially)

remit (release from (claims, debts, or taxes))

write off (cancel (a debt))

annul; avoid; invalidate; nullify; quash; void (declare invalid)

recall (make unavailable; bar from sale or distribution)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to die, especially suddenly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The disease struck down many young men in the village

Hypernyms (to "strike down" is one way to...):

kill (deprive of life)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cut down; drop; fell; strike down

Context example:

Lightning struck down the hikers

Hypernyms (to "strike down" is one way to...):

cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)

Cause:

come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strike down"):

chop down (cut down)

poleax; poleaxe (fell with or as if with a poleax)

log; lumber (cut lumber, as in woods and forests)

cut (fell by sawing; hew)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They strike down the trees

 Context examples 

Strike down to earth that false judge there, and his constable, and spare not the king who has treated me so ill.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)