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
Now 30, Kohberger in July pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in exchange for prosecutors dropping pursuit of the death penalty.
—
Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 26 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors charged Saucedo in 2017 with nine counts of first-degree murder and have filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Utah prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Utah prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
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Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 26 Sep. 2025
Prosecutors charged Saucedo in 2017 with nine counts of first-degree murder and have filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty.
—Miguel Torres, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Utah prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Utah prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 2025.
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