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

County medical examiner raises new questions about the sudden death of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

After the sudden death of her father, Chloe Cooper felt like she was the only person in the world feeling such intense grief.

From BBC • May 16, 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

“Not so far—happen three mile. He had been called away by the sudden death of his father: he was at Marsh End now, and would very likely stay there a fortnight longer.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë