LIFE-OR-DEATH Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

life-and-death

adjective

variants also life-or-death

Definition of life-and-death

as in crucial

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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 And despite efforts to educate the public on what to do on a day of severe weather, people still sometimes make common mistakes when faced with a possible life-and-death situation. — Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 1 Apr. 2026 The life-and-death stakes were raised when the former high school series jumped five years to show a now-young adult Rue becoming a drug mule and working for rival kingpins (Martha Kelly’s Laurie also took her own life in the finale). — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026 On a darker note, some successful bets on life-and-death events such as war in Iran and the abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro have raised questions about whether bettors are trading on insider knowledge. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for life-and-death

Recent Examples of Synonyms for life-and-death

Adjective

Both Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers applauded the recent letters from Congress to Quebec, saying getting American wine back into Canada is crucial to aiding their struggling industry.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Fairview a ‘crucial’ crossing The two Fairview bridges were built 44 years apart.

— Mark Dee July 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026

Definition of crucial

Adjective

If there is no fundamental change in the Iranian leadership’s rhetoric and policy, the United States must begin preparing, alongside its partners, for a more decisive phase of wartime policymaking.

— Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
In the first decisive victory of this tournament’s knockout stage, France dominated Sweden Tuesday with a 3-0 win that guaranteed the French another match this week.

— Doha Madani, NBC news, 1 July 2026

Definition of decisive

Adjective

Meantime, earnings forecasts have soared, largely but not exclusively on the back of the AI-equipment bottleneck, providing plenty of fundamental cover for the tape.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 July 2026
All of these detention facilities have in common a fundamental disregard for our health and well-being.

— Brady Tillett, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Definition of fundamental

Adjective

Infrastructure In infrastructure, the analysts said investors should look at companies that own critical networks such as grids, pipelines, fiber networks and transport assets that are difficult to replicate.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Women comprise 35% of US STEM employees, yet retention, not attraction, is the primary challenge, with women leaving at higher rates and companies losing critical knowledge.

— Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of critical

Adjective

Ukraine, meantime, has also recently ramped up missile and drone attacks against key infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, including oil refineries, ports and military factories.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Verbeek also has lost four key defensemen — captain Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba, John Carlson and Olen Zellweger — in the past month while adding only journeyman Nick Jensen as a probable replacement.

— Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of key

Browse Nearby Words

life

life-and-death

lifeblood

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“Life-and-death.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life-and-death. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of life-and-death

adjective

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