How to Use do-or-die in a Sentence
do-or-die
adjective-
The loser of the game must win a do-or-die game three days later to make the playoffs.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2023
-
The Wolves don’t expect that to wane with the Warriors in a do-or-die scenario Wednesday.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 May 2025
-
Game 6 is do-or-die for Boston, which will be without Jayson Tatum.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
-
In a do-or-die road win over the New York Jets, Richardson threw for 272 yards and had three total touchdowns.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
-
The Pacers will throw contrasting vibes in the do-or-die road finale.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 22 June 2025
-
Matheus Nunes’ strike was the eighth occasion that Emery’s team have let one in at that do-or-die stage of a contest.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
-
The question now is what adjustments will Thibodeau make to force a do-or-die Game 7.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
-
Streaming, though, feels like the industry that’s most in a do-or-die moment.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024
-
In the do-or-die Game 7, the Bruins committed a series-high 18 giveaways.
—Conor Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2023
-
His parents knew the life ahead in Hong Kong: long days and nights of studying for a do-or-die college entrance exam.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
-
Back then, Golden State had reasonable hopes of escaping the do-or-die play-in round.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024
-
In a do-or-die plea for aid, the owners created a GoFundMe page that, to their surprise, met its goal within 24 hours.
—Benjamin Kemper, Saveur, 11 July 2024
-
And then the playoffs come along and you are put in do-or-die scenarios — high-pressure, big moments, just like in other sports.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2025
-
And then the playoffs come along and you are put in do-or-die scenarios — high-pressure, big moments, just like in other sports.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2025
-
The Timberwolves went into a do-or-die game and were flatlining before the first quarter was halfway over.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
-
Washington had the best fourth-down conversion rate in the league during the regular season, and made some huge do-or-die plays to stay in it against the Birds.
—Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
-
In the first game of the night the Heat rolled into looking for a second straight do-or-die win after defeating the Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday in their first play-in game.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
-
The game finished with the Dodgers bullpen that had been so brilliant in a Game 4 do-or-die win, this time four relievers holding the Padres hitless over the final four innings.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024
-
In less than 48 hours, New Hampshire will open the polls, and so Haley has been back in her trusty flag number for the final push of do-or-die campaigning this weekend.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2024
-
He is accustomed to losing do-or-die games in Boston, including three Game 7s in the playoffs.
—Michael Russo, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
-
Barca is attempting to make up ground on Madrid in the title race and also has a do-or-die meeting with Napoli in the Champions League last 16 on the horizon.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
-
Given that every game from here on out is do-or-die for the Grizzlies, this could help expedite their offseason.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
-
The Commanders, in fact, are appearing in Saturday's matchup in large part because of their mettle on do-or-die downs.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2025
-
The Commanders, in fact, are appearing in Saturday's matchup in large part because of their mettle on do-or-die downs.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2025
-
All this is part of a do-or-die task for the quintessential American department store under a brand-new CEO.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024
-
That ground game has increasingly centered on a do-or-die push in Iowa, where a long-shot victory could redeem the effort.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023
-
His wife saw the funny side Before the sun had even risen, the 36-year-old was out on the course’s driving range with his wedge, sending shot after shot towards a flag in a dress rehearsal of the do-or-die attempt to come.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
-
Elimination games come down to who’s hungrier, who survives in a do-or-die moment.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
-
Yet, despite all this positive momentum, 2025 will likely be a do-or-die year for Rumble.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
-
Yet, despite all this positive momentum, 2025 will likely be a do-or-die year for Rumble.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'do-or-die.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Last Updated: