ˈlas(t)-ˌdich 
-ˈdich
1
: fought or conducted from the last ditch : waged with desperation or unyielding defiance
put up a last-ditch resistance
2
: made as a final effort especially to avert disaster
a last-ditch attempt to raise the money
: a place of final defense or resort
Examples of last-ditch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Last fall, in a last-ditch effort to reduce the state’s spending on weight loss drugs, Folwell, working alongside the state’s pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark, initiated drug pricing negotiations with Novo Nordisk, later followed by Eli Lilly.
—Jason Kane, NBC News, 24 Apr. 2024
The police officer made a last-ditch attempt to hit the brakes, records show, but his SUV zipped over the last 100 yards in less than three seconds, a torpedo destined to crumple almost anything in its path.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
As a last-ditch attempt to save the species from extinction, wildlife experts captured him and the other free-flying condors, then took them to zoos and conservation facilities.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
After being spurned by networks large and small, the U.F.C. leadership devised a last-ditch plan to become profitable: a reality TV show in which 16 athletes would live together in a Las Vegas house, training and fighting one another with a six-figure contract on the line.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Last year, it was named a Special Focus Facility by CMS, considered a last-ditch effort to encourage troubled nursing homes to improve their safety and quality or else be terminated from the program.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
The accusation reflects a last-ditch pressure campaign to save a federal program that has helped connect more than 23 million US households to the internet, many for the first time.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
There's always the 2045 total solar eclipse As a last-ditch hope for those who opt to stay put no matter where they're located, there's one last meteorological ace-in-the-hole that could offer reprieve, one fueled by the astronomical event itself.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
Loch Raven led 55-36 after the third and both coaches emptied their benches for the fourth quarter.
of
Loch Raven’s Brian Thomas pulls up for a 3-pointer while Perry Hall’s Justin Avery makes a last ditch defensive effort.
—Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2024
Zelenskyy also met with Congressional leaders early Tuesday as part of a last ditch plea effort to get lawmakers on board with approving additional Ukraine funding.
—Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2023
In a last ditch move to delay the bill’s passage in the House on Thursday, Democrats filed dozens of amendments to the proposal, all of which were rejected by Republicans.
—Anthony Izaguirre, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2023
The Panthers' last ditch hook-and-ladder attempt failed deep in their own territory and Cleveland escaped victorious.
—Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022
That effort came down to the wire on Wednesday when the Supreme Court denied a last ditch attempt to delay his execution, declining to review whether or not the jurors at Mitchell's trial in Arizona should have been interviewed for potential bias against Native Americans.
—Clare Hymes, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2020
Riverview would have one last ditch effort to win.
—J. Daniel Pearson, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Nov. 2020
Sabrina Wu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, and Stephanie Hsu in 'Joy Ride' | Credit: Ed Araquel/Lionsgate In a last ditch effort to get past airport security on their way out of China, the friends decides to pose as a K-Pop group with hordes of fans.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Helen is, of course, the unsung hero of this story, the heart and spine of the family who insists on keeping them together while David makes one last-ditch attempt to make it in the music industry in Nashville.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Last fall, in a last-ditch effort to reduce the state’s spending on weight loss drugs, Folwell, working alongside the state’s pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark, initiated drug pricing negotiations with Novo Nordisk, later followed by Eli Lilly.
—Jason Kane, NBC News, 24 Apr. 2024
The police officer made a last-ditch attempt to hit the brakes, records show, but his SUV zipped over the last 100 yards in less than three seconds, a torpedo destined to crumple almost anything in its path.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
As a last-ditch attempt to save the species from extinction, wildlife experts captured him and the other free-flying condors, then took them to zoos and conservation facilities.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
After being spurned by networks large and small, the U.F.C. leadership devised a last-ditch plan to become profitable: a reality TV show in which 16 athletes would live together in a Las Vegas house, training and fighting one another with a six-figure contract on the line.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
Last year, it was named a Special Focus Facility by CMS, considered a last-ditch effort to encourage troubled nursing homes to improve their safety and quality or else be terminated from the program.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
The accusation reflects a last-ditch pressure campaign to save a federal program that has helped connect more than 23 million US households to the internet, many for the first time.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
There's always the 2045 total solar eclipse As a last-ditch hope for those who opt to stay put no matter where they're located, there's one last meteorological ace-in-the-hole that could offer reprieve, one fueled by the astronomical event itself.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
In a last ditch idea, with one more breathing apparatus failing, doctors decided to pump high-flow oxygen through her nose.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
Loch Raven led 55-36 after the third and both coaches emptied their benches for the fourth quarter.
of
Loch Raven’s Brian Thomas pulls up for a 3-pointer while Perry Hall’s Justin Avery makes a last ditch defensive effort.
—Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2024
Zelenskyy also met with Congressional leaders early Tuesday as part of a last ditch plea effort to get lawmakers on board with approving additional Ukraine funding.
—Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2023
In a last ditch move to delay the bill’s passage in the House on Thursday, Democrats filed dozens of amendments to the proposal, all of which were rejected by Republicans.
—Anthony Izaguirre, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2023
The Panthers' last ditch hook-and-ladder attempt failed deep in their own territory and Cleveland escaped victorious.
—Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022
That effort came down to the wire on Wednesday when the Supreme Court denied a last ditch attempt to delay his execution, declining to review whether or not the jurors at Mitchell's trial in Arizona should have been interviewed for potential bias against Native Americans.
—Clare Hymes, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2020
Riverview would have one last ditch effort to win.
—J. Daniel Pearson, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Nov. 2020
Sabrina Wu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, and Stephanie Hsu in 'Joy Ride' | Credit: Ed Araquel/Lionsgate In a last ditch effort to get past airport security on their way out of China, the friends decides to pose as a K-Pop group with hordes of fans.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'last-ditch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near last-ditch
Cite this Entry
“Last-ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-ditch. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share