smoking gun
noun
: something that serves as conclusive evidence or proof (as of a crime or scientific theory)
Examples of smoking gun in a Sentence
This document is the smoking gun that proves that he was lying.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe was meant to take the stand as a smoking gun for the prosecution but instead revealed no new information and came to Jackson’s defense.
—
Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
As the general asks Desdemona (an impeccable Olivia Cygan) to retrieve her handkerchief — an apparent smoking gun of infidelity found in another man’s chambers — his wife promptly spirals and stalls.
—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
After recording the transmission, Zaminsky takes the evidence to Phil Gordian (Ron Silver), his smarmy boss at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, where his remarkable findings are rejected as a misinterpretation and the smoking gun tape is eventually destroyed.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 31 May 2026
Buyers do not need a smoking gun to ask for a discount on a deal.
—David Chapman, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for smoking gun
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Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
As the general asks Desdemona (an impeccable Olivia Cygan) to retrieve her handkerchief — an apparent smoking gun of infidelity found in another man’s chambers — his wife promptly spirals and stalls.
—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 3 June 2026
After recording the transmission, Zaminsky takes the evidence to Phil Gordian (Ron Silver), his smarmy boss at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, where his remarkable findings are rejected as a misinterpretation and the smoking gun tape is eventually destroyed.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 31 May 2026
Buyers do not need a smoking gun to ask for a discount on a deal.
—David Chapman, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for smoking gun
Cite this Entry
“Smoking gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smoking%20gun. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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