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checkmate

[chek-meyt] / ˈtʃɛkˌmeɪt /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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But the moment Washington forced an error by the Broncos’ defense, the Huskies called checkmate.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 14, 2025

If this is supposed to be some 4-D chess move, it looks an awful lot like checkmate — for the wrong side.

From Salon Feb. 23, 2025

Ackman presented the director’s allyship as a checkmate even though, once again, neither he nor Oxman denied any of the reporting on the substance.

From Slate Jan. 10, 2024

Niemann’s efforts to complicate White’s task pay off when Sevian goes in for an ill-fated piece sacrifice in hopes of checkmate: 50.

From Washington Times Oct. 10, 2023

“You’ve got to make some sacrifices! I’ll make my move and she’ll take me — that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!”

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

The finale presents a remarkable range of checkmates for the hapless Black king: 24.

From Washington Times Mar. 21, 2023

Rxa8, and White soon to be queened pawn will help deliver checkmates in a couple of moves.

From Washington Times Nov. 8, 2022

She exploits every scrap of ironic humor, as Richard gloatingly checkmates all who stand in her way.

From Seattle Times Sep. 19, 2018

Karjakin threatened no less than four checkmates, and there’s no way Carlsen could have sidestepped them all.

From Slate Dec. 1, 2016

In sixty seconds flat, she checkmates her opponent’s king.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

But unlike the megahits “Cats” and “Phantom of the Opera,” “Chess” was checkmated shortly after it arrived in New York in a swell of London fanfare.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 22, 2026

"She's almost checkmated herself. She can't U-turn. And pressing on seems terminal too," a former Downing Street spinner observes.

From BBC Oct. 1, 2022

It insisted the game was a draw, even though I had thoroughly checkmated my kid.

From The Verge Nov. 5, 2021

In the first rapid game Adams was White in the ultra-solid Berlin Wall butMcShane launched a fierce attack which ended with Adams’s white king checkmated at d7, deep in the black camp.

From The Guardian Dec. 14, 2018

Papa had just checkmated Jaja when we heard the martial music on the radio, the solemn strains making us stop to listen.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

That is as humiliating as it gets — to have somebody say, “You suck, Uncle Jake,” spelled wrong while checkmating me.

From New York Times Jan. 27, 2024

Partly that was because of the checkmating defense by his old coach, Bill Belichick, and partly it was the pelting rain and chill winds, which had once been his home-field allies.

From Washington Post Oct. 4, 2021

Harris was also asked about Chargers receiver Keenan Allen’s dismissive comments about Harris last week after the Broncos star cornerback was primarily responsible for checkmating the league’s top receiver in Denver’s 20-13 win.

From Washington Times Oct. 15, 2019

They imagined they could corral him and use him to achieve their own purposes, such as checkmating labor unions and reasserting German strength.

From Washington Post Jul. 19, 2018

We should now realize that, even if the Government succeeds in checkmating us in India at every step, there is ample scope for work for several years among Indians living abroad.

From Indian Unrest by Sir Valentine Chirol




Vocabulary lists containing checkmate


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