dead on arrival
idiom
: having died before getting to a hospital, emergency room, etc.
The victim was dead on arrival at the hospital.
—often used figurativelySome are saying that any new tax proposal would be dead on arrival.
Examples of dead on arrival in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And there is a reason Platner’s message has not been dead on arrival.
—
Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025
Upon being taken to the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, 28 miles from the crash site, Dean was pronounced dead on arrival.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Republicans slammed a counteroffer from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to address expiring Obamacare subsidies as dead on arrival and an unserious attempt to end the shutdown stalemate.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Beebe was able to pull the unresponsive victim from underwater and out of the boat, they were pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead on arrival
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Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025
Upon being taken to the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital, 28 miles from the crash site, Dean was pronounced dead on arrival.
—Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Republicans slammed a counteroffer from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to address expiring Obamacare subsidies as dead on arrival and an unserious attempt to end the shutdown stalemate.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Beebe was able to pull the unresponsive victim from underwater and out of the boat, they were pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead on arrival
Cite this Entry
“Dead on arrival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20on%20arrival. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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