Definitions

do-or-die

[doo-er-dahy] / ˈdu ərˈdaɪ /

ADJECTIVE

last-ditch

Synonyms

STRONGEST

frantic last-gasp

WEAK

desperate eleventh-hour final last-chance last-minute last-resort

ADJECTIVE

unbending

Synonyms

STRONG

crisp firm obstinate reserved

WEAK

aloof distant dug in formal hard as nails hard-line hold one's ground hold the fort hold the line incompliant inelastic inexorable inflexible intractable locked-in obdurate relentless resolute set in stone severe single-minded standing one's ground standing pat sticking to one's guns stiff strict stubborn uncompromising unflexible unrelenting unswayable unyielding uptight

Antonyms

STRONG

flexible soft yielding

WEAK

bending pliable pliant relaxed

NOUN

competition

Synonyms

STRONGEST

championship clash event fight game match meeting race rivalry sport struggle tournament trial

STRONG

antagonism bout candidacy contention controversy counteraction emulation encounter engagement jungle matchup opposition puzzle quiz racing run strife striving tilt tug-of-war warfare

WEAK

athletic event concours dog-eat-dog go for it go for the gold horse race one-on-one one-upping pairing off rat race

Antonyms

STRONGEST

peace

STRONG

accord agreement harmony surrender sympathy

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.

The Azzurri, who lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a do-or-die playoff on Tuesday, last qualified in 2014.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

However, it isn’t a do-or-die proposition for IBM, Woodring points out.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

"It is big. It's not quite do-or-die time but it's getting pretty close."

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2025

He says he felt it for his new Peacock thriller series, "Teacup," where he plays a complicated father and husband whose family is thrown into a terrifying do-or-die mystery.

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2024

And it occurs to me that even in these do-or-die moments, there’s still space for us to laugh.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

do-or-die

Example Sentences

Related Words