1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)
2
: an indication of the end or the failure of something
sounded the death knell for our hopes
knelled; knelling; knells
: to summon or announce by or as if by a knell
1
: to ring especially for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll
2
: to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect
Examples of knell in a Sentence
Verb
the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader
Recent Examples on the Web
Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
No one is ever keen to give Netflix credit, but what seemed like a death knell (the streamer buying the intimate indie out of Sundance) might actually have propelled it to a Best Picture nomination.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
For entry-level roles, especially those requiring clerical tasks, AI could be a death knell.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Should the movie be considered its death knell?
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knell
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Noun
Critics across the globe, meanwhile, have described the sentence as a death knell for a once more free Hong Kong—as well as a signal of what could be in store for other places China has its eye on, namely Taiwan.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
No one is ever keen to give Netflix credit, but what seemed like a death knell (the streamer buying the intimate indie out of Sundance) might actually have propelled it to a Best Picture nomination.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
For entry-level roles, especially those requiring clerical tasks, AI could be a death knell.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Should the movie be considered its death knell?
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knell
Cite this Entry
“Knell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knell. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knell
2 of 2 noun1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly for a death, funeral, or disaster
2
: an indication (as a sound) of the end or failure of something
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