fell stroke

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.

And then – boom! – with one fell stroke of an adapter’s arbitrariness, Mr. Kelly altered the play’s ending in a way that crudely shrinks and simplifies its intentions.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2010

By one fell stroke there was no longer either end in sight nor visible means of reaching it.

From Noto: an Unexplained Corner of Japan by Lowell, Percival

For not, though deep beneath the sod Thou liest, not unrequited nor unsung Shall this fell stroke, from Cypris' rancour sprung, Quell thee, mine own, the saintly and the true!

From Hippolytus/The Bacchae by Euripides

Nothing but the red mark on the doorway of the dwelling would be of any avail in warding off the fell stroke.

From The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus A Sunday book for the young by Macduff, John R. (John Ross)

See all the artifice of civilisation swept away at one fell stroke, and behold your gentleman, transformed in an instant into a beast, with all a beast's primeval qualities.

From A Spinner in the Sun by Reed, Myrtle