the death penalty
noun
: death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes : capital punishment
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
She opposes the death penalty.
Examples of the death penalty in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyu-jin is sentenced to life in prison for her crimes, but appeals, seeking the death penalty.
—
Kayti Burt, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
Mangione appeared in court on December 19 to face four federal charges, including two counts of stalking, one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty, and a firearms offense.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Biden pledged to end the death penalty during his presidential campaign and had been under pressure from progressive lawmakers and criminal justice activists to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates, before Donald Trump takes office.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2025
In the United States, the death penalty is used almost exclusively for those who commit murders with aggravating circumstances that make their crimes particularly heinous.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
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Kayti Burt, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
Mangione appeared in court on December 19 to face four federal charges, including two counts of stalking, one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty, and a firearms offense.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Biden pledged to end the death penalty during his presidential campaign and had been under pressure from progressive lawmakers and criminal justice activists to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates, before Donald Trump takes office.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2025
In the United States, the death penalty is used almost exclusively for those who commit murders with aggravating circumstances that make their crimes particularly heinous.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the death penalty
Dictionary Entries Near the death penalty
Cite this Entry
“The death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20death%20penalty. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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