sudden death
noun
1
: unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes from any cause other than violence
sudden death following coronary occlusion
2
: extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins
Examples of sudden death in a Sentence
We won 27–24 in sudden death.
a serious heart condition that can result in sudden death
Recent Examples on the Web
Richins, 35, allegedly poisoned her husband Eric by putting a fatal dose of fentanyl in his drink, leading to his sudden death in 2022.
—
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
About a quarter of the time, sudden death is the first symptom.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The previous system was basically a modified sudden death system that gave each team at least one chance to score — with one big exception.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
For the rest of us, sudden death felt like a mercy killing.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sudden death
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Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
About a quarter of the time, sudden death is the first symptom.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The previous system was basically a modified sudden death system that gave each team at least one chance to score — with one big exception.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
For the rest of us, sudden death felt like a mercy killing.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sudden death
Cite this Entry
“Sudden death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sudden%20death. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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