or else
idiom
1
—used to say what will happen if something is not done
You have to leave or else you will be arrested for trespassing.
2
—used to say what another possibility is
He either thinks he can't do it or else he just isn't interested.
3
informal
—used in angry speech to express a threat without saying exactly what the threat is
Do what I say or else!
Examples of or else in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For instance, much more screen time is given to the Israeli side than the Palestinian one, which is only seen from a safe distance, or else in videos displayed on a phone.
—
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2024
Still employing Cohn’s old dirty tricks, Trump frequently vows legal retribution, and frequently fails to follow through, or else sees his efforts tossed out of court.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2024
Instead, the court reviewed evidence alleging that the email appeared designed to either get employees to agree to new employment terms, sight unseen, or else push employees to volunteer for dismissal during a time of mass layoffs across Twitter.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 13 Aug. 2024
All the vouchers had to be used by a certain date, or else the federal government would take them back.
—Lucy Tompkins, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for or else 
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2024
Still employing Cohn’s old dirty tricks, Trump frequently vows legal retribution, and frequently fails to follow through, or else sees his efforts tossed out of court.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2024
Instead, the court reviewed evidence alleging that the email appeared designed to either get employees to agree to new employment terms, sight unseen, or else push employees to volunteer for dismissal during a time of mass layoffs across Twitter.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 13 Aug. 2024
All the vouchers had to be used by a certain date, or else the federal government would take them back.
—Lucy Tompkins, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for or else
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'or else.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near or else
Cite this Entry
“Or else.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20else. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
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