Definitions

do-or-die

[doo-er-dahy] / ˈdu ərˈdaɪ /

ADJECTIVE

last-ditch

Synonyms

STRONGEST

frantic last-gasp

WEAK

desperate eleventh-hour final last-chance last-minute last-resort

ADJECTIVE

unbending

Synonyms

STRONG

crisp firm obstinate reserved

WEAK

aloof distant dug in formal hard as nails hard-line hold one's ground hold the fort hold the line incompliant inelastic inexorable inflexible intractable locked-in obdurate relentless resolute set in stone severe single-minded standing one's ground standing pat sticking to one's guns stiff strict stubborn uncompromising unflexible unrelenting unswayable unyielding uptight

Antonyms

STRONG

flexible soft yielding

WEAK

bending pliable pliant relaxed

NOUN

competition

Synonyms

STRONGEST

championship clash event fight game match meeting race rivalry sport struggle tournament trial

STRONG

antagonism bout candidacy contention controversy counteraction emulation encounter engagement jungle matchup opposition puzzle quiz racing run strife striving tilt tug-of-war warfare

WEAK

athletic event concours dog-eat-dog go for it go for the gold horse race one-on-one one-upping pairing off rat race

Antonyms

STRONGEST

peace

STRONG

accord agreement harmony surrender sympathy

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.

"It was a do-or-die moment, the most critical operation in the mission," Nandini told me when I interviewed her in 2016.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

However, it isn’t a do-or-die proposition for IBM, Woodring points out.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

“In a do-or-die situation,” Rojas had told him.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

With their season on the line in a do-or-die playoff game, the Yankees turned to Schlittler, a hard-throwing right-hander who didn’t make his major-league debut until July.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

And it occurs to me that even in these do-or-die moments, there’s still space for us to laugh.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

do-or-die

Example Sentences

Related Words