sudden death

NOUN

unexplained death

Synonyms

WEAK

deathblow early death premature death stroke of death tiebreaker untimely end

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.

A third-act twist or sudden death can change a viewer’s overall perception of a movie in an instant.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

Tributes poured in following the announcement of Busch's sudden death.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

The sudden death of her daughter left Danielle Crittenden struggling to imagine the meaning of life without her.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Charles also made an emotional return to I'm A Celebrity after being forced to withdraw from the same series following the sudden death of his brother.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

He was still faithful in coming through Aunt Fanny’s sugarbush grove every morning, though she’d threatened us all with sudden death if we trespassed.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck