do-or-die

adjective

Synonyms of do-or-dienext
1
: doggedly determined to reach one's objective : indomitable
2
: presenting as the only alternatives complete success or complete ruin
a do-or-die situation

Examples of do-or-die in a Sentence

a do-or-die entrepreneur who never stopped believing that hard work would inevitably lead to success
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.
After they got blown out in Game 4, Sturm didn’t want to put Hagens in the lineup in a do-or-die situation. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026 And that’s true from a do-or-die perspective. John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026 Extra rest figures to benefit the Knicks, especially as the two teams vying to face them in the second round engage in a do-or-die battle on Saturday. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026 Some of the most extreme adventures described in the books on this list were not matters of choice; their protagonists were forced into do-or-die journeys by circumstance or bad luck. Eva Holland, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for do-or-die

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of do-or-die was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Do-or-die.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-or-die. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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