: sensationally striking, attractive, or impressive
a drop-dead evening gown
drop-dead adverb

Examples of drop-dead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Cap's on the Water, St. Augustine: Another high-end eatery with drop-dead gorgeous views, Cap's on the Water is located between Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine. Kara Franker, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2023 According to the bill, the pause on student loans ends 60 days after June 30, making Aug. 29 the drop-dead date with payments due in September. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 7 June 2023 The couple’s first apartment, a tiny rental in Antibes on the French Riviera with a drop-dead view of the Mediterranean, had a sliver of a kitchen with just two electric burners, a bar sink and barely enough counter space to slice a baguette. Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 3 May 2023 Emily Ratajakowski in Ana Khouri and Fred Leighton While all eyes are normally on Emily Ratajakowski’s drop-dead body, her Fred Leighton jewels were giving her figure a run for its money this evening. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 1 May 2023 Wear drop-dead gorgeous makeup. Monique Brown, refinery29.com, 22 Mar. 2023 In a just world, a performance by the drop-dead gorgeous winner of the first season of Canada’s Drag Race would have been good, clean fun. Noah Shachtman, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2023 The drop-dead-gorgeous islands are filled with golden sands, palm trees, and plenty of space just for you, as only two of the 27 islands are inhabited. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2023 Quietly confident, even armored in her drop-dead sexiness, available but defiant. Rhonda Garelick, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drop-dead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drop-dead was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near drop-dead

Cite this Entry

“Drop-dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop-dead. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!