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 says he is unable to stand or walk, and "is at death's door".

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2025

The movies have ostensibly been at death’s door at least since the shift to sync sound, which isn’t to undersell the industry’s business woes.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 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

Rumors had appeared in newspapers that I was at death’s door and she had become quite concerned.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

at death's door

Example Sentences

Related Words