at death's door

ADJECTIVE

dying

Synonyms

STRONGEST

decaying doomed fading moribund

STRONG

declining disintegrating ebbing fated final going mortal passing perishing sinking vanishing withering

WEAK

at end of rope done for giving up the ghost in extremis on last leg one foot in grave

Antonyms

STRONG

permanent

WEAK

creating developing growing living reviving

ADJECTIVE

moribund

Synonyms

WEAK

at the end of the rope declining done for doomed expiring fading fated going mortal mortally ill on one's deathbed on one's last leg one foot in the grave passing perishing

ADJECTIVE

terminally ill

Synonyms

WEAK

in critical condition on one's deathbed on the critical list

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.

He added that an Israeli invasion of the city would "leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at death's door".

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2024

The musical “Rock & Roll Man” starts with an attention-grabbing gambit: It is 1965, and J. Edgar Hoover is prosecuting the D.J. and promoter Alan Freed, then at death’s door.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2023

They want to let patients like Zurawski obtain lifesaving care before they are actually at death’s door.

From Slate • Mar. 7, 2023

There was something different happening here: the ex-con at death’s door coming clean with his regrets.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 2021

“I suppose you told him I’m at death’s door or something,” Franny said.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

at death's door

Example Sentences

Related Words