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
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.
Adjective
In the car ride there, Lindsay says that this seems like a couple’s last-ditch effort. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 May 2026 Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota over the weekend issued an 11th-hour plea for Missouri lawmakers to freeze property assessments for two years, a remarkable, last-ditch proposal before his successor is elected. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
Noun
Critics of the Administration have predictably dismissed the move as a desperate, last ditch effort on the part of the White House to regain leverage over Tehran. Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2026 But his last ditch attempt to flee to safety would fail. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Last-ditch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last-ditch. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster