Vocabulary in context
SAT Vocabulary Workbook
The closest companion to SATVocab for students who want guided lessons and written practice.
Check the workbook
Demise
Death; the end or failure of something
nounCheck this word before you leave
Pick the meaning. Keys A–D work too.
How well do you know this word now?
Your choice schedules the next review.
💡
Imagine This
Beth is at her friend’s pet mice’s funeral. She says with a horrible accent, "The death of the pet mice leads to demise of your friend’s liveliness."
🔊
Sounds Like
dih-MIZE
👀
Looks Like
De-ice
📝
Remember This
Many years ago, during a snowy morning, a plane crash in Washington, D.C. caused many deaths because the plane was not properly de-iced.
📚
Other Forms
demisesnoun
🔗
Connect With
De- (prefix meaning down or away); often signals a negative or opposite action. Related words: decrease, decay, decline, decompose, deform, deceit, defeat.
📌
Note
Demise is a formal term for death or the end of something (such as a company or project). Do not confuse with de-ice (to remove ice) or with decease (an older or legal-style word for death).
🧠
Study Deeper
Examples
- The sudden demise of the aging monarch shocked the nation.
- The startup faced its demise after the investor pulled out.
Synonyms
deathdeceasepassingenddownfall
Antonyms
birthcontinuationsurvival
Etymology
From Old French demise, from Latin demissus 'let down, sent away', past participle of demittere. The sense 'death' developed in legal contexts (transfer of property upon death).
Mnemonic
De- means down; imagine pushing something down until it ends—demise is the end.
Next Word
Continue in alphabetical order.
Try a Random Word
Pick any word below to jump in.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
Study beyond this word
Turn vocabulary practice into a complete SAT plan
Add a workbook for repetition or the official guide for full-test context.
First-time test takers
Official SAT Guide
Official question styles, test structure, and print practice from the College Board.
Check the official guidePaid Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.