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
The final decision on whether to pursue capital punishment will be made by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
—
Bonny Chu , Jake Gibson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Heuermann is not facing the death penalty because capital punishment was declared unconstitutional in New York in 2004, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 17 June 2026
The ruling was at least a temporary, rare victory for opponents of capital punishment in a state that has had one of the busiest death chambers in the country.
—Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Even if the administration had evidence of drug smuggling, that is not the same thing as a conviction; and even if these people had a conviction, federal law does not establish capital punishment for drug trafficking.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
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Bonny Chu , Jake Gibson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Heuermann is not facing the death penalty because capital punishment was declared unconstitutional in New York in 2004, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 17 June 2026
The ruling was at least a temporary, rare victory for opponents of capital punishment in a state that has had one of the busiest death chambers in the country.
—Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Even if the administration had evidence of drug smuggling, that is not the same thing as a conviction; and even if these people had a conviction, federal law does not establish capital punishment for drug trafficking.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 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 23 Jun. 2026.
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