skull and crossbones
noun
plural skulls and crossbones
: a representation of a human skull over crossbones usually used as a warning of danger to life
Examples of skull and crossbones in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ultimate prop was the pirate flag, which could be decorated with a skull and crossbones (as in the classic Jolly Roger design), bleeding hearts, hourglasses, spears, cutlasses and skeletons.
—
Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024
Another posted an emoji of a dripping syringe and a skull and crossbones.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
Designed by David August, the suit is all-black velvet with an interior lining printed with skulls and crossbones.
—Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024
The club was renamed Real Bedford F.C., with the crest changed to a skull and crossbones and the nickname to the Pirates.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2023
Silver and black, the body pattern resembles a pirate’s skull and crossbones.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023
In April, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry posted a photograph on its Twitter account of a soldier wearing a patch featuring a skull and crossbones known as the Totenkopf, or Death’s Head.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 5 June 2023
The Colony High School’s football team awards helmet stickers for each phase of the game: a skull and crossbones for defensive plays, gold stars for offense and cougar paws for special teams.
—oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
The launch sparked outrage as the company promoted the J.V. death machine with cartoon skulls and crossbones stylized as boys and girls.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 Jan. 2023
Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024
Another posted an emoji of a dripping syringe and a skull and crossbones.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
Designed by David August, the suit is all-black velvet with an interior lining printed with skulls and crossbones.
—Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024
The club was renamed Real Bedford F.C., with the crest changed to a skull and crossbones and the nickname to the Pirates.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2023
Silver and black, the body pattern resembles a pirate’s skull and crossbones.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023
In April, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry posted a photograph on its Twitter account of a soldier wearing a patch featuring a skull and crossbones known as the Totenkopf, or Death’s Head.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 5 June 2023
The Colony High School’s football team awards helmet stickers for each phase of the game: a skull and crossbones for defensive plays, gold stars for offense and cougar paws for special teams.
—oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
The launch sparked outrage as the company promoted the J.V. death machine with cartoon skulls and crossbones stylized as boys and girls.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skull and crossbones.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near skull and crossbones
Cite this Entry
“Skull and crossbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull%20and%20crossbones. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
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skull and crossbones
noun
skull and cross·bones
-ˈkrȯs-ˌbōnz 
plural skulls and crossbones
: a representation of a human skull over crossbones used as a warning of danger to life
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