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
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025
The solemn requiem mass ended with a concluding prayer formally entrusting Francis to God as his casket was brought back into St. Peter’s as bells tolled a death knell.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
See All Example Sentences for knell
Verb
Atmospheric drag has been pulling the inoperable spacecraft lower and lower in altitude over the decades, and Kosmos 482 is now just days away from its final death knell.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 May 2025
The solemn requiem mass ended with a concluding prayer formally entrusting Francis to God as his casket was brought back into St. Peter’s as bells tolled a death knell.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Day 18: Hard to focus with all the death knells tolling.
—Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020
See All Example Sentences for knell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knell
Verb
-
Yet Ben Stokes, the one-time gifted problem child of the English game, faces India this week in the first of two defining series in his Test captaincy with the ringing endorsement of some of the most successful and high-profile figures to have held the post.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
The railroad bell kept ringing, adding to the tension.—
Keith Plocek,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
As two peals of thunder cracked overhead, all live television feeds from the site went dead.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Determine Why Volunteers Disengage Looking at the volunteer retention rate is a great indicator of engagement.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
This consistently high reading for the CMF indicator implies that the stock is in a clear accumulation phase with definitive volume support.—
David Keller,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
The earth beneath my feet shook as the bells of the ancient basilica tolled.—
Christopher Hale,
Time,
9 May 2025
-
Specifically, the bill would allow the Indiana Department of Transportation to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
That was a fantastically exciting ding-dong 2-2 — with Atletico missing a 99th penalty and eventually being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage.—
Dermot Corrigan,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Realmuto slapped Castellanos on the butt after the home-plate umpire issued a rare double-safe signal.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Some legal experts interpreted that as a signal that the administration would not enforce EMTALA.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
The South Pasadena, Calif., hardware store thrummed with the usual rhythms of a Wednesday night: customers browsing shelves, cash registers chiming, the low hum of fluorescent lights overhead.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
-
The report said the captain returned from the bathroom and tried to open the cockpit door with a regular opening code, which chimes the cockpit.—
Alex Stambaugh,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Though this installation of tintinnabulation has been a feature of the garden for more than a decade, some frequent visitors only noticed the chimes this summer, when a small crew recently installed them in a large linden tree adjacent to Parade Stadium.—
Kim Hyatt,
Star Tribune,
23 July 2021
-
Shivaree, chthonian, erumpent, tintinnabulation, exonumia, requiescat, deipnosophist, omphaloskepsis, horripilation, deliquesce, apopemptic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knell. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share