life-and-death
adjective
variants
or less commonly life-or-death
: involving or culminating in life or death : vitally important as if involving life or death
Examples of life-and-death in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The townspeople’s friendships, romances, and enmities are tangible ways to understand what’s going on here, and their complex bonds help amplify the show’s life-and-death stakes.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
There are all the hallmarks of the Spanish master: sumptuous interiors splashed with vibrant colors; rich, wordy roles for layered female characters; life-and-death stakes woven into the fabric of the everyday.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
The life-and-death drama played out in the heart of country music.
—Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2024
Scientists have also suspected that those species’ role is so important that their loss could have life-and-death consequences for human beings.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for life-and-death 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
There are all the hallmarks of the Spanish master: sumptuous interiors splashed with vibrant colors; rich, wordy roles for layered female characters; life-and-death stakes woven into the fabric of the everyday.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
The life-and-death drama played out in the heart of country music.
—Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2024
Scientists have also suspected that those species’ role is so important that their loss could have life-and-death consequences for human beings.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for life-and-death
Dictionary Entries Near life-and-death
Cite this Entry
“Life-and-death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-and-death. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share