quietus

noun

kwī-ˈē-təs How to pronounce quietus (audio)
Definition of quietusnext
1
as in release
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility was granted a quietus on the remainder of the debt in the old man's will

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in death
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities her unshakable belief in a blissful afterlife allowed her to meet her quietus without the slightest tinge of fear or regret

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 quietus On the supply side, climate experts give him credit for suspending drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and for giving the final quietus to Keystone. — Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 9 June 2021 If Berryman is playing Cassandra to himself, crying out the details of his own quietus, how did the cry begin? — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quietus
  1. release
  2. death
  3. discharge
  4. fate
  5. demise
  6. doom
  7. passing
Noun
  • Fans online — those who’d been at the concert and those just tracking it from afar — immediately began clamoring for a commercial release of Saturday’s show.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators believe the suspect, 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker, killed himself, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Sunday evening.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of release
Noun
  • After news broke of Panettiere’s death, tributes from across Hollywood came pouring in online.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jack Coleman, who co-starred in the sci-fi drama Heroes alongside Hayden Panettiere, mourned the actress’ death at age 36 in an emotional tribute.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of death
Noun
  • The discharge process triggered major diplomatic and economic pushback, most notably from China and Russia, which banned imports of Japanese seafood following the initial August 2023 release.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, eligible borrowers may still qualify for existing federal programs, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and certain loan discharge programs.
    — Amy DeYoung, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of discharge
Noun
  • The site has now been sequestered and Malosso was ordered to tear down the theater, though its fate remains to be seen.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In a brutal twist of fate for USC, just ahead of its Week 0 opener, defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart is now likely to miss the nonconference slate with a foot injury.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of fate
Noun
  • Tubes from hospital equipment were still attached to his face, gunshot wounds on his right side were still gaping, and tattoos which included a gun and a bullet casing were still embedded in his skin, a permanent memorial to the tools of his demise.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But just one injury — or significant drop in play, for that matter – could bring about Miami’s early demise.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of demise
Noun
  • Rather than falling prey to the tech takeover doom and gloom, take the time to restrategize.
    — Claire Bahn, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • With the belated realization that the Chinese had indeed overtaken them in the burgeoning electric-vehicle business, the world’s other car-makers descended into doom and gloom.
    — Jamie Kitman, Air Mail, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of doom
Noun
  • In 2018, shortly before her passing, Mason laid the groundwork for what would become the Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Her passing comes a year after her son, Sam, lost his life in a car crash.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of passing

Browse Nearby Words

quietude
quietus
quietuses
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Cite this Entry

“Quietus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quietus. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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