death

noun

ˈdeth How to pronounce death (audio)
Definition of deathnext
1
as in demise
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities we were all saddened by the death of our friend

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mortality
the state of being dead death is one of the few constants in the universe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dissolution
the act of ceasing to exist the death of the Soviet economic system in the wake of the breakup of the USSR

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life that muscle car will be the death of him yet

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5
as in massacre
the killing of a large number of people thousands of soldiers were lost on the field of death

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of death Two people died from measles in Pennsylvania, the state’s first deaths from the disease in 35 years, with experts warning that figure could rise because of falling vaccination rates in the US. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Several high-profile figures are mourning the death of the legendary Dolly Parton. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 26 Aug. 2026 The father of a 1-year-old child who died in Baltimore after being left in a hot vehicle has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the child's death. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Smith was especially close to Daniel and was devastated by his death. — Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for death
Recent Examples of Synonyms for death
  1. demise
  2. dead
  3. dissolution
  4. downfall
  5. massacre
  6. fate
  7. mortality
  8. termination
Noun
  • The losses linked to the demise of these groups are difficult to quantify, but participants and advocates say the impacts will reverberate across federal agencies for years.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Syrian civil war that began during that period eventually saw the demise of the Assad regime – Hafez’s son Bashar had continued his father’s hard-line legacy after coming to power in 2000.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of demise
Noun
  • Ronald Exantus was released from Kentucky Department of Corrections custody July 29 after completing the sentence imposed for assaulting Logan Tipton's father and sisters during the 2015 home invasion that left the 6-year-old dead.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Fire crews soon pronounced the driver of the Ram dead at the scene.
    — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of dead
Noun
  • Tymon Brown, the Gravel Institute’s head of production, said that the nonprofit’s dissolution was never explained to him or the rest of the organization.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In the following centuries, Norway didn't have a king of its own until Harald's grandfather, Haakon VII, was elected king following the 1905 dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dissolution
Noun
  • The Silver Academy was not the only institution housed on the Grass Campus that was hurt by the Harrisburg federation’s downfall.
    — Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Hong's past social media comments over canceling Thanksgiving may have played a role in her downfall.
    — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of downfall
Noun
  • Once the ruthless commander of Bosnian Serb forces, Mladic oversaw the siege of Sarajevo, mass killings and the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that left more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys dead.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian-Serb general who orchestrated the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo during the Balkan wars, has died in prison aged 84.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of massacre
Noun
  • Former Boilermakers union members convicted in June of racketeering conspiracy — including ex-International President Newton Jones — will be waiting three more months to learn their fate.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Kohl’s decided in 2016 to close one of its big box stores in Roswell, but no one knew the building’s fate would be stuck in purgatory for the next decade.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of fate
Noun
  • In some initial results, dead fish collected from the mass mortality events showed consistently high levels of PHV, the department said in a statement, while live fish that were examined had varied levels of the virus.
    — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The cyberpunk classic melds timeless eye candy with themes of mortality and identity.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of mortality
Noun
  • But a 2015 report from the Government Accountability Office from shows that termination of asylum cases due to fraud isn't common.
    — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Joao Cancelo signed a three-year deal after, according to the club, agreeing a contract termination with Al Hilal.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of termination

Phrases Containing death

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deasil
death
death's-head
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Cite this Entry

“Death.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/death. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on death

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about death

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