riddance

noun

rid·​dance ˈri-dᵊn(t)s How to pronounce riddance (audio)
1
: an act of ridding
2
: deliverance, relief
often used in the phrase good riddance especially to express relief that someone or something has gone

Examples of riddance in a Sentence

the riddance of all the fleas from the house was a relief to everyone concerned
Recent Examples on the Web Until his death of a heart attack in 1970, Nasser waged a relentless crusade for pan-Arabism—the idea that all Arabs were one people, with Egypt as their natural leader, and that the boundaries between Arab states were ripe for riddance. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023 Good riddance to that rubbish. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023 Good riddance to zero interest rates. Andy Kessler, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2022 Still, good riddance to that guy. Jeva Lange, The Week, 28 Sep. 2021 See all Example Sentences for riddance 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'riddance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1524, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of riddance was in 1524

Dictionary Entries Near riddance

Cite this Entry

“Riddance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riddance. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

riddance

noun
rid·​dance ˈrid-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce riddance (audio)
: the act of ridding : the state of being rid of

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