1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)
2
: an indication of the end or the failure of something
sounded the death knell for our hopes
knelled; knelling; knells
: to summon or announce by or as if by a knell
1
: to ring especially for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll
2
: to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect
Examples of knell in a Sentence
Verb
the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader
Recent Examples on the Web
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Sep. 2025
But the relatively low viewership numbers may not be a death knell for the show considering it’s used, in part, to promote products from Markle’s lifestyle brand As Ever, which Netflix is heavily invested in.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The cuts could also be a potential death knell for local PBS and NPR stations across the country, who rely heavily on government funds to keep the lights on and the public in the know.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The end of the Civil War marked a death knell for the men’s compatriots fighting on land, but here, on the fringes of the Arctic, their ship was gaining momentum.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for knell
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Noun
Despite that, though, sources have said this isn’t exactly the death knell for the show.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 Sep. 2025
But the relatively low viewership numbers may not be a death knell for the show considering it’s used, in part, to promote products from Markle’s lifestyle brand As Ever, which Netflix is heavily invested in.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The cuts could also be a potential death knell for local PBS and NPR stations across the country, who rely heavily on government funds to keep the lights on and the public in the know.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The end of the Civil War marked a death knell for the men’s compatriots fighting on land, but here, on the fringes of the Arctic, their ship was gaining momentum.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for knell
Cite this Entry
“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knell. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knell
2 of 2 noun1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly for a death, funeral, or disaster
2
: an indication (as a sound) of the end or failure of something
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