or else
idiom
1
—used to say what will happen if something is not done
You have to leave or else you will be arrested for trespassing.
2
—used to say what another possibility is
He either thinks he can't do it or else he just isn't interested.
3
informal
—used in angry speech to express a threat without saying exactly what the threat is
Do what I say or else!
Examples of or else in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump urged them to negotiate a ceasefire or else trade deals with the governments would stall.
—
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Nusbaum believes this training must be extended to paraeducators, the teacher aides who provide assistance and support in the classroom, or else their inability to properly respond to violence may contribute to teacher injuries.
—IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
This will have to be an easy win for Belichick and the Tar Heels, or else the entire experiment could come under some serious scrutiny before anybody anticipated.
—Michael Hurley, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s the politicization aspect, in which agency leaders are being forced to toe the line or else face the consequences of being dismissed.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
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.
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Nusbaum believes this training must be extended to paraeducators, the teacher aides who provide assistance and support in the classroom, or else their inability to properly respond to violence may contribute to teacher injuries.
—IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
This will have to be an easy win for Belichick and the Tar Heels, or else the entire experiment could come under some serious scrutiny before anybody anticipated.
—Michael Hurley, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
There’s the politicization aspect, in which agency leaders are being forced to toe the line or else face the consequences of being dismissed.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
Cite this Entry
“Or else.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20else. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share