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
The Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, and, since, then the most executions Florida had carried out in a single year was eight in 2014.
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Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Their son, Nick, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and there are reports that California might even seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 19 Dec. 2025
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is considering whether to seek a sentencing retrial on the two murder convictions involving Cooksey's mother and stepfather or drop the effort to seek the death penalty and let a judge impose life sentences on those two counts.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
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Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Their son, Nick, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and there are reports that California might even seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 19 Dec. 2025
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is considering whether to seek a sentencing retrial on the two murder convictions involving Cooksey's mother and stepfather or drop the effort to seek the death penalty and let a judge impose life sentences on those two counts.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
Cite this Entry
“The death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20death%20penalty. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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