the death penalty
noun
: death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes : capital punishment
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
She opposes the death penalty.
Examples of the death penalty in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.
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Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
His attorneys are trying to convince the jury that the 34-year-old defendant should receive life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of the death penalty.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
Hours after the Justice Department made its announcement, the pontiff condemned the death penalty as an attack on human dignity.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
Florida prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a woman accused of killing both of her ex-lovers on the same day.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
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Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
His attorneys are trying to convince the jury that the 34-year-old defendant should receive life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of the death penalty.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026
Hours after the Justice Department made its announcement, the pontiff condemned the death penalty as an attack on human dignity.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
Florida prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a woman accused of killing both of her ex-lovers on the same day.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
Cite this Entry
“The death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20death%20penalty. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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