at gunpoint

phrase

: under a threat of death by being shot

Examples of at gunpoint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once inside, Ibarra and his friends terrorized the woman and an unidentified person, holding them at gunpoint and knifepoint, per the report. — Logan Smith, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Journalists and military members were held at gunpoint at a Space Force base. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 An altercation occurred inside the apartment, after which the victims were ordered to the floor at gunpoint, according to police. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Listening in from a nearby water tower via a wire, Rand realizes Kershaw’s connection to the plot and holds him at gunpoint, sparking a fierce brawl between them. — Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for at gunpoint

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of at gunpoint was in 1907

Rhymes for at gunpoint

See All Rhymes for at gunpoint

Browse Nearby Words

at full/top speed
at gunpoint
ath
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“At gunpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20gunpoint. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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