DEATH BLOW Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

deathblow

noun

Definition of deathblow

as in confutation

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as in calamity

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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 deathblow The death blow came on the heels and in comes in advance of unprecedented efforts by formerly Confederate states undertaking their own efforts to disenfranchise Black voters through gerrymandering. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 So why shouldn’t Trump exploit that fragility to land a death blow against a murderous adversary? — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026 And in January the administration delivered a death blow to a program that was meant to deploy backup solar and storage systems at hospitals and at 30,000 homes of rural, low-income and medically vulnerable people, according to Latitude Media. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026 In September, those plans were dealt a death blow when the city council approved amending the municipal zoning code to prohibit timesharing in single-family homes. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2025 In the view of the movie theater industry trade association Cinema United, the deal — which is still pending regulatory approval and would not go into effect until Q3 next year — represents a death blow to multiplexes. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deathblow

Noun

Nominalism and positivism have deluged the world with vast quantities of little-read scholarship whose underlying rationale is often the confutation of the very possibility of the larger-scale intelligibility of the world.

— M. D. Aeschliman, National Review, 20 Feb. 2022

Definition of confutation

Noun

The operation was a testament to the growing effectiveness of a multinational collection of urban search-and-rescue squads — known as USAR — that have become ubiquitous life-savers at epicenters of calamity across the globe.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
There have been few comments about improvements or calamities, other than the usual notes that battery life was reduced immediately after installation, which is commonplace.

— David Phelan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of calamity

Noun

Germany hasn’t won a knockout match since hoisting the trophy in 2014 and exited here against Paraguay in a penalty shootout.

— Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Mohamed Salah, playing through a hamstring injury, helped set up multiple chances and converted his penalty as Egypt beat Australia 4-2 in a shootout on July 3 to win the country’s first World Cup knockout stage match ever.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026

Definition of knockout

Noun

Modern networks are more resilient in disasters, an AT&T spokesman said, because they can be restored faster and are less vulnerable to damage and copper theft.

— Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Burnham launched a government inquiry that found police failures, not the victims themselves, were responsible for the disaster.

— Lauren Frayer, NPR, 9 July 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

In the work of fiction, the ship is taken over to prevent catastrophe.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
The young girls are referred to as Heaven’s 27 by their surviving families, who are determined to honor their legacy by ensuring such a catastrophe never happens again.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

Adding to Rezaeian’s agony, right before the final whistle another potential clincher, a header from Khalilzadeh, hit the crossbar.

— Sean Gregory, Time, 28 June 2026
Reinhart also has 32 goals across four Stanley Cup playoff runs, scoring the game-winner in Florida’s first Cup clincher in 2024 and scoring four goals in their second Cup clincher in 2025.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

Definition of clincher

Noun

In a statement Wednesday evening, DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called the death a tragedy and said the county remains committed to transparency and integrity.

— Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
With two children dying so far this summer after being left inside cars during South Florida’s sweltering heat season, experts are urging parents and other caregivers to take a series of steps to prevent tragedies.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Definition of tragedy

Browse Nearby Words

death's-heads

deathblow

deathblows

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“Deathblow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deathblow. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of deathblow

noun

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