last-ditch

1 of 2

adjective

1
: fought or conducted from the last ditch : waged with desperation or unyielding defiance
put up a last-ditch resistance
2
: made as a final effort especially to avert disaster
a last-ditch attempt to raise the money

last ditch

2 of 2

noun

: a place of final defense or resort

Examples of last-ditch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Starting with some last-ditch campaigning in Michigan, hopes begin high, but then reality quickly sets in as the day sunsets. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025 And in a last-ditch attempt to stop Junior from shooting Jake, who recognized Vince even through his ski mask, Vince shoots Junior in the head and then flees the scene. Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
In a last ditch effort, the determined rescuers brought in an excavator and devised a plan that would save the animal’s life. Ronnie Li, USA Today, 30 July 2025 The use of force was a last ditch effort to end a nuclear program built and backed by a government intent not only on terrorizing its own people but also on exporting mayhem abroad. Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for last-ditch

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of last-ditch was in 1706

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Cite this Entry

“Last-ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-ditch. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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