capital punishment
noun
: punishment by death : the practice of killing people as punishment for serious crimes
called also death penalty
Examples of capital punishment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Federal District Judge Margaret Garnett didn’t rule on any of Mangione’s motions at the hearing – including motions that could get the death penalty off the table – but acknowledged that her rulings on potential capital punishment for Mangione will impact when the trial starts.
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Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Garnett also said jury selection could begin in Mangione's trial as early as September if capital punishment is off the table.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
The special circumstances charged in this case — the allegation that Reiner committed multiple homicides — opened the door to capital punishment.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
The murder charges include the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, opening him to a possible death sentence if prosecutors choose to pursue capital punishment.
—City News Service, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capital punishment
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Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Garnett also said jury selection could begin in Mangione's trial as early as September if capital punishment is off the table.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
The special circumstances charged in this case — the allegation that Reiner committed multiple homicides — opened the door to capital punishment.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
The murder charges include the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, opening him to a possible death sentence if prosecutors choose to pursue capital punishment.
—City News Service, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for capital punishment
Cite this Entry
“Capital punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital%20punishment. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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