guillotine

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.

“Consolidation now hangs over the film industry like a guillotine, with job losses likely and the future of the theatrical movie-going experience in question,” Lauzen wrote in her report.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

"I am on a four-year walk to the guillotine," says another, anticipating defeat at the next general election.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

The Sept. 1 protest had “little to no energy,” according to an internal Portland police summary, before federal officers dispersed the crowd to collect a prop guillotine that had been brought.

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2025

“It’s not like the guillotine is coming out,” said Roberts, the retired banker, who spoke via Zoom from a vacation in Paris.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Mr. Patch-Withers’ face was reaching a brilliant shade, and his wife’s head fell as though before the guillotine.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles