do-or-die
adjective
ˈdü-ər-ˈdī 
-ȯr-
1
: doggedly determined to reach one's objective : indomitable
2
: presenting as the only alternatives complete success or complete ruin
a do-or-die situation
Synonyms
Examples of do-or-die in a Sentence
a do-or-die entrepreneur who never stopped believing that hard work would inevitably lead to success
Recent Examples on the Web
What actually goes through one’s mind in those do-or-die moments where the difference between eternal glory and lifelong disappointment is one tiny miscalculation or half-second’s hesitation?
—
Andrew Barker, Variety, 19 June 2024
Edwards was moving instead of being set, but the infraction appeared to have no real effect on the play, nothing blatant, and this time the chance for one of the game’s great players to take a do-or-die shot was taken away.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Apr. 2024
Nikki Haley was scrambling Monday to close a wide gap with former President Donald Trump on the eve of Tuesday’s do-or-die New Hampshire Republican primary.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2024
And after losing Sunday night at Ball Arena, the Nuggets are now even in those do-or-die games: 4-4 as a franchise and 3-2 with Jokic and Jamal.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 May 2024
At a Senate committee hearing last week, Cross told legislators the state industry and Pimlico were at a do-or-die point.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024
After managing Paul’s minutes throughout the season to keep him fresh, the Warriors only played him 18 minutes in their do-or-die game in Sacramento.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
For any team looking to win a national title, the prospect of winning six consecutive games over three weekends in a do-or-die environment seems beyond stress-inducing.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The do-or-die rivalry between President Yoon Suk Yeol and the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, whose party holds the majority in the National Assembly, has made the elections as fraught with fear and resentment as any in South Korean history.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Andrew Barker, Variety, 19 June 2024
Edwards was moving instead of being set, but the infraction appeared to have no real effect on the play, nothing blatant, and this time the chance for one of the game’s great players to take a do-or-die shot was taken away.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Apr. 2024
Nikki Haley was scrambling Monday to close a wide gap with former President Donald Trump on the eve of Tuesday’s do-or-die New Hampshire Republican primary.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2024
And after losing Sunday night at Ball Arena, the Nuggets are now even in those do-or-die games: 4-4 as a franchise and 3-2 with Jokic and Jamal.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 May 2024
At a Senate committee hearing last week, Cross told legislators the state industry and Pimlico were at a do-or-die point.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024
After managing Paul’s minutes throughout the season to keep him fresh, the Warriors only played him 18 minutes in their do-or-die game in Sacramento.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
For any team looking to win a national title, the prospect of winning six consecutive games over three weekends in a do-or-die environment seems beyond stress-inducing.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The do-or-die rivalry between President Yoon Suk Yeol and the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, whose party holds the majority in the National Assembly, has made the elections as fraught with fear and resentment as any in South Korean history.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'do-or-die.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Do-or-die.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-or-die. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
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