knell
/nɛl/
noun
- The sound of a bell, especially one rung slowly and solemnly for a death or funeral.
- A deep knell sounded from the tower, marking the end of the ceremony.
- The knell of the church bell echoed across the village.
- They stood in silence as the knell announced the funeral procession.
- A sign or warning that something is ending or will end badly.
- His resignation sounded the knell of the old administration.
- The storm was a knell of the destruction to come.
- The company's falling sales were a knell for its future.
verb
- (of a bell) to ring slowly and solemnly, especially for a death or funeral.
- They could hear the distant bell knelling from the old chapel.
- The bells knelled throughout the morning for the fallen soldiers.
- As the service began, the tower bell knelled once more.
- To announce or signal something, especially something sad or ominous.
- The dark clouds knelled the coming storm.
- The empty streets knelled the decline of the town.
- Her silence knelled the end of their friendship.
Synonyms