sudden death

noun

Synonyms of sudden deathnext
1
: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes from any cause other than violence
sudden death following coronary occlusion
2
: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins

Examples of sudden death in a Sentence

We won 27–24 in sudden death. a serious heart condition that can result in sudden death
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.
The more Tom tries to pick up the parental slack left by his wife’s sudden death, the more Jake seems to pull away, which allows the new Whisper Man to gain a toehold in their lives. — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Less than two weeks after the sudden death of her costar Hayden Panettiere, the Nashville actress posted an Instagram tribute to Dolly Parton following the country superstar’s death on Tuesday. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026 In the story, Ejva inherits her father’s reindeer herd following his sudden death. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 An inquest opened Wednesday into the sudden death earlier this month of Jason Arday, a Cambridge University professor who faced a storm of plagiarism accusations. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sudden death

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sudden death was in the 14th century

Rhymes for sudden death

See All Rhymes for sudden death

Browse Nearby Words

sudden
sudden death
sudden infant death syndrome
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sudden death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sudden%20death. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sudden death

noun
: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins

Medical Definition

sudden death

noun
: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes or hours from any cause other than violence
sudden death following coronary occlusion
especially : sudden cardiac death

More from Merriam-Webster on sudden death

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sudden death

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