He came out shooting, same as you said he would.
Source: tatoeba (16869)
Shooting
/ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
Synonyms for "shooting" (226 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (46)
acuteacute painafflictiveagonizingantiaircraft firearcheryatrociousaxbanebeheadingbingobitebitingbloodbloodlettingbloodshedboring painbrainingburningcapital punishment
Show 24 more words
castingchaircharley horsechasecheckerschesschevychivychuckingcoursingcrampcrampingcrampscrickcross firecrucifixioncruelcurtain firecynegeticsdarting paindealing deathdecapitationdecollationdefenestration
Noun(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
danish skyde
Strong matches (67)
destructiondestruction of lifedirect firedispatchdistressingdry fireelectrocutioneuthanasiaexcruciatingexecutionexterminationfalconryfile firefirefire of demolitionfirepowerfireworksfiringflackflak
Show 38 more words
flingingflow of bloodfox huntingfulgurant painfusilladegallowsgamegarrotegas chambergassinggirdle paingnawinggoregravegripingground fireguillotinegunfightgunfiregunnerygunninggunplayhanginghardharrowingharshhawkingheavinghemlockhigh-angle firehitchhorizontal firehot seathunthuntinghurlinghurtfulhurting
Related words (113)
immolationinterdiction firejaculationjudicial murderjumping painkillkillingkinkknifelikelancinating painlapidationlobbingmachine-gun firemartyrdommartyrizationmercy killingmortar firemusketrynecktie partynip
Show 79 more words
painfulpangparoxysmparoxysmalpercussion firepiercingpinchpistol firepitchingpoignantpoisoningprickprojectionpungentrackingraking firerapid firericochet firerifle fireritual killingritual murderropesacrificeseizureseveresharpsharp painshellfireshikarshootshoot outshoot-outshooting painskeetskeet shootingslaughterslayingslingingspasmspasmaticspasmicspasmodicsportsportingstabstabbingstabbing painstalkingstill huntstingingstitchstoningstranglingstrangulationtaking of lifethe axthe blockthe chairthe gallowsthe gas chamberthe guillotinethe hot seatthe ropethrillthroesthrowingtime firetormentormentingtorturoustrajectiontrapshootingtweaktwingetwitchveneryvertical firewrenchzone fire
Noun(13 words)
meteor relatedmeteoricphoto shootphotographingphotography sessionradiating painsharp painshootshotshotgunningsnappingstabbing painweapon related
Verb(1 words)
roll camera
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acute, acute pain, afflictive, agonizing, antiaircraft fire.
- Sentence evidence is available for shooting, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "shooting".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "shooting"
Keep "shooting" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "shooting" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "shooting", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "shooting" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesactionactivityactuationathletic skillcelestial phenomenondescriptive adjectivehomicideimage capturemedical descriptorphotographyprocesspropulsionqualifying termsport techniqueviolence
More specific
22 entriesadvertising shootdocumentary filmingfashion shootfree throw shootinggunfiremeteor streakneuralgic painnews shootportrait photographyradicular painrapid firerapid firingshooting glassesshooting glovesshooting locationshooting schedule
Showing 16 of 22 words.
Collocations
10 entriesfilm shootingphoto shootshooting galleryshooting incidentshooting painshooting rangeshooting scheduleshooting scriptshooting startarget shooting
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
19 total sentences available.
This was third school shooting incident in six months.
Source: tatoeba (21613)
Why am I shooting these guys, tell me, what have they done?
Source: tatoeba (24651)
Terrible shooting broke out the night before last.
Source: tatoeba (34741)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "shooting"?
Closest matches include acute, acute pain, afflictive, agonizing, antiaircraft fire.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "shooting"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.