the death penalty

noun

: death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes : capital punishment

If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

She opposes the death penalty.

Examples of the death penalty 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.

Soliman’s defense team has argued that the testimony of his ex-wife and children would be key to the case should federal prosecutors pursue the death penalty, and that deporting the family would likely violate Soliman’s constitutional rights. —

Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 Mohamed Soliman is still facing federal terrorism charges in the case and the potential of the death penalty. —

Alan Gionet, CBS News, 28 May 2026 Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold cases and breaking news for USA TODAY. —

Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 28 May 2026 Prosecutors throughout the state continue to seek and win the death penalty in horrific cases that command public attention. —

Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for the death penalty

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“The death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20death%20penalty. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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