sudden death
noun
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
Lemon Grove now has a full City Council, nearly five months after the sudden death of Councilmember Steve Faiai in July.
—
Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
Gleason, who was an alum and former coach for Siena's rival, the nearby University at Albany, was met with an outpouring of support shortly before his sudden death.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
The domestic scene—affairs and betrayals, sudden deaths and new romances, all the hubbub of the private lives of these great and would-be great men—always undercuts the grand designs of political philosophy.
—Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025
His romance with Meredith became one of the show's most popular storylines, which made his sudden death in season 11 all the more devastating.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sudden death
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Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
Gleason, who was an alum and former coach for Siena's rival, the nearby University at Albany, was met with an outpouring of support shortly before his sudden death.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
The domestic scene—affairs and betrayals, sudden deaths and new romances, all the hubbub of the private lives of these great and would-be great men—always undercuts the grand designs of political philosophy.
—Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025
His romance with Meredith became one of the show's most popular storylines, which made his sudden death in season 11 all the more devastating.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sudden death
Cite this Entry
“Sudden death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sudden%20death. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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