as in to ring
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates
the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in indicator
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of knell
Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
But Yang said more research is needed, and the discovery of the new dwarf planet candidate is not necessarily a death knell for Planet Nine.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 4 June 2025
Being the new series that aired months ago can often be an Emmys death knell, but those precursor nominations could be a way to lock Nobody Wants This onto voters’ radar.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025
This week, Riley Green offers up a smoldering heartbreaker of a song, while Dolly Parton reunites with bluegrass group The Grascals on an uplifting new track, and HARDY and ERNEST team up for a new song sounding a death knell for bro country.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for knell
Verb
The end of the Civil War marked a death knell for the men’s compatriots fighting on land, but here, on the fringes of the Arctic, their ship was gaining momentum.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
But Yang said more research is needed, and the discovery of the new dwarf planet candidate is not necessarily a death knell for Planet Nine.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 4 June 2025
Being the new series that aired months ago can often be an Emmys death knell, but those precursor nominations could be a way to lock Nobody Wants This onto voters’ radar.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025
This week, Riley Green offers up a smoldering heartbreaker of a song, while Dolly Parton reunites with bluegrass group The Grascals on an uplifting new track, and HARDY and ERNEST team up for a new song sounding a death knell for bro country.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for knell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knell
Verb
-
The line rang several times before going to voicemail.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Another suggestion that people should pre-order them several weeks out also did not ring true.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Amid grills cooking savory barbecue, bubbles blowing from an ice cream truck, face painting and peals of laughter from kids in a nearby bouncy house, Justine Mosely Stephens was struggling not to tear up.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
-
Amal wore a strapless white Tamara Ralph Haute Couture gown which was draped in peals from top to bottom, with some wrapped around her arms below the shoulder.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
Bilosi says one surefire indicator of uneven extraction is deep channeling in the coffee bed that looks like someone burrowed a few narrow holes all the way down.—
Noah Kaufman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The rump and the ears are other indicators.—
Tim Kelly,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In Gozo, residents peacefully sweep their doorsteps while church bells toll distantly in the background.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The board also suggested tolling all lanes.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In 2020, three 16-year-olds were killed when a man rammed his car into their vehicle in retaliation for pulling a ding-dong-ditch prank on him.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Bomer is good when Jerry the ding-dong must navigate a moment of real sentiment or complication; the juxtaposition is effective.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
These aren’t transactional breadcrumbs—they’re predictive signals that illuminate what’s next.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The fibers can also carry more than 1,000 times the power of conventional versions and transmit signals across a broader range of wavelengths.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jolie’s performance, which chimes with her experience as a filmmaker and her personal health struggles, is particularly moving.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
-
However, just as wedding bells chime, chaos ensues when the notorious Ghost Bandits raid his bank.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Shivaree, chthonian, erumpent, tintinnabulation, exonumia, requiescat, deipnosophist, omphaloskepsis, horripilation, deliquesce, apopemptic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2021
-
Two dozen billiard balls roll on tracks, striking a series of devices that set off a tintinnabulation of bells, chimes and metallic clinks.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
1 Aug. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knell. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share