knell
1 of 2noun
ˈnel 
1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)
2
: an indication of the end or the failure of something
sounded the death knell for our hopes
knell
2 of 2verb
knelled; knelling; knells
transitive verb
: to summon or announce by or as if by a knell
intransitive verb
1
: to ring especially for a death, funeral, or disaster : toll
2
: to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect
Synonyms
Verb
- bong
- chime
- peal
- ring
- toll
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader
Recent Examples on the Web
Deirdre Reilly, Fox News, 1 Aug. 2022 There remains an uneasiness over what might be the death knell for women’s cricket in Afghanistan, particularly from Australia and independent board director Indra Nooyi, according to sources. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 18 July 2022 The death knell that had sounded as the Aral began its long retreat was now fading away. Henry Wismayer, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 The death knell that had sounded as the Aral began its long retreat was now fading away. Henry Wismayer, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Rhodes won with multiple Cross Rhodes, and finally delivered the death knell with a sledgehammer in an extremely heated match. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 6 June 2022 That came as a shock to many in the Democratic Caucus and seemed to sound the death knell for the Build Back Better act for a while. Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The death knell for me with the Pixel Buds Pro is audio quality. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 28 July 2022 Musical styles—jazz, hip-hop, a kind of stilted neo-soul, the exaggerated gospel that is so often the corny death knell for musicals—fly by. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Daniel Pollack-pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020 See More
Noun
For some Massachusetts homeowners, the drought is the death knell for caring about how their yard and gardens look to both themselves and others. Deirdre Reilly, Fox News, 1 Aug. 2022 There remains an uneasiness over what might be the death knell for women’s cricket in Afghanistan, particularly from Australia and independent board director Indra Nooyi, according to sources. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 18 July 2022 The death knell that had sounded as the Aral began its long retreat was now fading away. Henry Wismayer, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 The death knell that had sounded as the Aral began its long retreat was now fading away. Henry Wismayer, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Rhodes won with multiple Cross Rhodes, and finally delivered the death knell with a sledgehammer in an extremely heated match. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 6 June 2022 That came as a shock to many in the Democratic Caucus and seemed to sound the death knell for the Build Back Better act for a while. Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The death knell for me with the Pixel Buds Pro is audio quality. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 28 July 2022 Musical styles—jazz, hip-hop, a kind of stilted neo-soul, the exaggerated gospel that is so often the corny death knell for musicals—fly by. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Verb
Day 18: Hard to focus with all the death knells tolling. Daniel Pollack-pelzner, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Old English cnyllan; akin to Middle High German erknellen to toll
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing knell
Kids Definition
knell
noun
ˈnel
1
: a stroke or sound of a bell especially when rung slowly for a death, funeral, or disaster
2
: an indication of the end or failure of something
"… it sounds the death knell of our society." Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonleaknell 1 of 2
verb
as in to ring
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates the church bells knelled to mark the death of the nation's beloved leader Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ring
- toll
- chime
- peal
- jingle
- gong
- clang
- bong
- echo
- tinkle
- ding
- clank
- clink
- ping
- clash
- ding-dong
- reverberate
- resonate
- jangle
- tang
- resound
- tingle
- plunk
- chink
- plink
- plonk
knell
2 of 2noun
1
as in peal
Synonyms & Similar Words
- peal
- clangor
- chime
- ring
- ping
- clang
- whang
- tintinnabulation
- clank
- rattle
- plink
- ding-dong
- tinkle
- jingle
- clash
- jangle
- clink
- twang
- clop
- tang
- thump
- clunk
- crunch
- clap
- chink
- clinkety-clank
- clip-clop
- crash
- crack
- clump
2
as in indicator
Synonyms & Similar Words
- indicator
- signal
- buoy
- sign
- notification
- omen
- foretaste
- presage
- premonition
- announcement
- tocsin
- declaration
- portent
- foretoken
- notice
- warning
- red light
- red flag
- wake-up call
- tip-off
- caution
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- all clear