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
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.
The video confession of a West Kendall mother who could face the death penalty if she’s convicted of drowning her 9-year-old autistic son can be played for jurors, a judge ruled Wednesday morning. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 If convicted as charged, Burke faces life in prison without parole, or the death penalty. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 Citizen, off-duty trooper credited with saving lives Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations, the death penalty and breaking news for USA TODAY. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 Boelter, 59, agreed to plead guilty to the federal charges in June, almost a year after the Minneapolis-area attacks, so federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the death penalty

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Cite this Entry

“The death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20death%20penalty. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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