death warrant

noun

: a warrant for the execution of a death sentence

: death blow

Examples of death warrant 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.

County Attorney Rachel Mitchell had been critical of Attorney General Kris Mayes' pause on the death penalty, leading her to ask the Supreme Court for a death warrant for prisoner Aaron Gunches. —

Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024 Roberson’s life was ultimately spared, for now, by the Texas Supreme Court, which issued a temporary stay of his execution shortly before his death warrant was set to expire at midnight. —

Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024 But lawmakers then petitioned their case to the Texas Supreme Court late Thursday as the hours ticked down before midnight — when Roberson’s death warrant was set to expire. —

Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024 Loran Cole, 57, is slated to be executed at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Florida State Prison after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant in July. —

Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for death warrant

Word History

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of death warrant was in 1692

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Death warrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20warrant. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation