variants
also life-or-death
as in crucial
Related Words
Relevance
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 life-and-death
The drumline loops and VST strings would be over-the-top if the performance weren’t so impassioned, the stakes not literally life-and-death.
—
Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Certainly not the life-and-death stakes.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The stakes of slow action on pedestrian and cyclist safety are life-and-death.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The life-and-death situation motivated Phillips to take to social media for help, with the encouragement of her famous friends and family, like sister Mackenzie Phillips and long term friends Nicky and Paris Hilton.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for life-and-death
Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Certainly not the life-and-death stakes.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The stakes of slow action on pedestrian and cyclist safety are life-and-death.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The life-and-death situation motivated Phillips to take to social media for help, with the encouragement of her famous friends and family, like sister Mackenzie Phillips and long term friends Nicky and Paris Hilton.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for life-and-death
Recent Examples of Synonyms for life-and-death
Adjective
-
That assessment didn’t mention Taiwan directly, but, in relation to Iran, said both sides had agreed that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and natural gas, must remain open.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The subpoenas were crucial in getting the names of children and their families so the Justice Department could interview them.—
Kimberlee Kruesi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
During my lifetime there have been 55 years in which my country has engaged in prolonged and endless conflicts or wars, few of which have brought a decisive victory.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
What initially looked like a decisive campaign by the US and Israel has evolved into a stagnant and prolonged conflict, with the threat of further escalation hanging over the region.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Wednesday that Moscow’s fundamental terms are unchanged, with Putin insisting that Ukraine pull its troops from the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but hasn’t fully captured.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
More than a year later, Fúnez was arrested with two others, businessman Héctor Eduardo Méndez and Juan Ángel Ramos Gallegos, whom prosecutors accused of criminal association to the detriment of other fundamental rights.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Morton was critical in helping the Broncos reach their first-ever playoff appearance, ultimately getting them to Super Bowl XII during the 1977 campaign.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
-
When the war started, governments scrambled to adapt to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for energy flowing to Asia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s especially apt as the Eagles chase a record sixth consecutive state championship this weekend in Fort Myers, because a key member of the family might not go.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
Morgan Rielly, the high-end comparable Drance found for Buium, is also a key comparable according to Buium’s current Net Rating profile.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
After years of seeing Spirit lure leisure travellers, the major airlines, led by Delta, responded with humble basic-economy fares of their own.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Why economists cared so much The basic facts of the late 1990s and early 2000s are that the United States was running large deficits.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
This article contains pivotal plot points and details of Nemesis, which debuted all eight episodes of its first season Thursday night on Netflix.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
In the episode, Morris plays Hazel, a sponsor to one of the pivotal characters.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Life-and-death.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life-and-death. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
