do-or-die

adjective

1
: doggedly determined to reach one's objective : indomitable
2
: presenting as the only alternatives complete success or complete ruin
a do-or-die situation

Examples of do-or-die in a Sentence

a do-or-die entrepreneur who never stopped believing that hard work would inevitably lead to success
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
New York Liberty fans will be waiting anxiously to see if the reigning WNBA champions can retain their title as the team heads to Phoenix to take on the Mercury in a do-or-die Game 3 in the first round of the playoffs. Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025 With 13 seconds to go, St. Pierre utilized one of his timeouts, his squad facing a do-or-die fourth-and-goal situation at the opposing two-yard line. Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025 Nearly 30 years after the 1995 original movie, Miami detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are diving into yet another do-or-die mission — this time to vindicate their late captain after he's wrongly implicated in a drug conspiracy. James Mercadante, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Deuce Vaughn This year’s training camp and preseason is a do-or-die time for the running back’s career with the Cowboys. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for do-or-die

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of do-or-die was in 1873

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Cite this Entry

“Do-or-die.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-or-die. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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