deathblow

[ deth-bloh ]

noun

1. a blow causing death.

deathblow

/ ˈdɛθˌbləʊ /

noun

1. a thing or event that destroys life or hope, esp suddenly

Word History and Origins

Origin of deathblow¹

First recorded in 1785–95; death + blow ¹

Example Sentences

He served in senior European-affairs posts under both the Clinton and Obama administrations and more recently accused Trump of inflicting a “deathblow” on the U.S. alliance with NATO.

From Los Angeles Times

An overhead shot shows us the lad preparing to strike the deathblow from a point of view that feels a million miles away, less a bird’s-eye view than a god’s.

From New York Times

The Wildlife Trusts said the decision was a "deathblow" for wildlife.

From BBC

At the last moment, Rathbone raised his arm to protect himself from what was intended to be a deathblow.

From Literature

Wagstaff, the curator, was maybe registering something important when he worried that Warhol’s painted soup cans might deliver a deathblow to established notions of painting.

From New York Times