silver bullet

noun

|Updated on: 29 May 2018

Definition of silver bullet

: something that acts as a magical weapon; especially : one that instantly solves a long-standing problem

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Recent Examples of silver bullet from the Web

For my mother, in the 1970s, that silver bullet was sealed in a package of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix.

— alex van buren, Health.com, "This Healthy, 5-Minute Dressing Can Rescue Almost Any Leftovers in Your Fridge," 22 May 2018
For Componere events, the silver bullet is a bustling command post.

— leilani marie labong, San Francisco Chronicle, "Start a tradition with a Bodega beach clambake," 11 May 2018
Sometimes called the silver bullet or the silver Twinkie, Airstream trailers are immediately recognizable thanks to their trademark aluminum exterior.

— megan barber, Curbed, "Restored vintage Airstream is 140 square feet of mobile bliss," 7 May 2018
But while the original Airstream silver bullet retailed for $1,200 back in 1936, Nest starts around $46,000.

— katie jackson, Fox News, "Airstream's Nest is a first: The company's new model swaps aluminum for fiberglass," 20 Apr. 2018
As the rivers come down and begin to clear, spawn bags will be the top bait for hooking a silver bullet.

— cleveland.com, "Fishing Report for March 30: Rain, wind put a damper on local fishing," 30 Mar. 2018
There is no silver bullet here that will make the biosimilar market go gangbusters.

— adam feuerstein, STAT, "In bid to lower prices, Gottlieb says FDA will take new action to speed approval of biosimilars," 28 Mar. 2018
Republicans insist that reducing taxes on the wealthy and regulations on corporations is the silver bullet; Democrats have generally told a more complicated story involving education, innovation, diversity, and redistribution.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "The Radical Proposal That Moderate Democrats Should Be Running On," 22 Mar. 2018
None of the ideas are a silver bullet and all have their supporters and detractors.

— tegan hanlon, Anchorage Daily News, "Mushers say the Iditarod can be saved. Here’s how.," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'silver bullet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of silver bullet

1806

in the meaning defined above

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SILVER BULLET Defined for English Language Learners

silver bullet

noun

Definition of silver bullet for English Language Learners

: something that very quickly and easily solves a serious problem

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