or else
idiom
1
—used to say what will happen if something is not done
You have to leave or else you will be arrested for trespassing.
2
—used to say what another possibility is
He either thinks he can't do it or else he just isn't interested.
3
informal
—used in angry speech to express a threat without saying exactly what the threat is
Do what I say or else!
Examples of or else in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump had urged them to negotiate a ceasefire or else trade deals with the governments would stall.
—
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Carter even challenged himself publicly to take down a quarterback soon, or else.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2025
The slogan expresses an all-or-nothing fantasy: either the thrilling overthrow of settler colonialism in all the land of Palestine, or else the glorious martyrdom of the noble resistance.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
That includes the strange tool used to suction boogers and the importance of tilting the bottle all the way to get all the bubbles out, or else.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
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Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Carter even challenged himself publicly to take down a quarterback soon, or else.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2025
The slogan expresses an all-or-nothing fantasy: either the thrilling overthrow of settler colonialism in all the land of Palestine, or else the glorious martyrdom of the noble resistance.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025
That includes the strange tool used to suction boogers and the importance of tilting the bottle all the way to get all the bubbles out, or else.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
Cite this Entry
“Or else.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20else. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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