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
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Shares of the software companies were up after Guggenheim upgraded both to buy, believing that artificial intelligence won't be a death knell for the companies and attractive valuations in the stocks.
—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
But the death knell for Casad’s crops was Oregon’s century-old law, which protects some water users at the expense of others.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Even in the Upper South, a higher-than-usual temperature and drought combo can be a death knell for gardens.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for knell
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Noun
Comparisons with first in class are often the death knell for new kids on the block.
—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Shares of the software companies were up after Guggenheim upgraded both to buy, believing that artificial intelligence won't be a death knell for the companies and attractive valuations in the stocks.
—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
But the death knell for Casad’s crops was Oregon’s century-old law, which protects some water users at the expense of others.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Even in the Upper South, a higher-than-usual temperature and drought combo can be a death knell for gardens.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 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 6 Jul. 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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