dead-on

adjective

ˈded-ˈȯn How to pronounce dead-on (audio)
-ˈän
: exactly correct or accurate
a dead-on analysis
his impersonations were dead-on

Examples of dead-on in a Sentence

a stand-up comedian known for her dead-on impressions of various divas of stage and screen
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That dawn of discovery is an incredible moment that plays out in a car with Jordan’s reaction to Sammie’s star-making talent being dead-on perfect. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025 Indeed, Dean Edwards' Denzel is hilarious and dead-on, Kenan Thompson's impression here less so. EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024 The first was Hurricane Ian, which made landfall dead-on as a Category 4 storm. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 9 Oct. 2024 Indeed, Dean Edwards' Denzel is hilarious and dead-on, Kenan Thompson's impression here less so. EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024 The Nope star stopped by The Tonight Show on Tuesday night (Nov. 19) to describe the scary moment to host Jimmy Fallon, complete with a pretty dead-on Nicki impersonation. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024 Playing the 81-year-old president as aghast, confused, and inarticulate could easily amount to an unkind impersonation, but in Carvey’s masterful hands, there is zero heightening — only dead-on accuracy. Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024 The first was Hurricane Ian, which made landfall dead-on as a Category 4 storm. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 9 Oct. 2024 An uncanny ability to make dead-on observations of those around him, Gregg is sardonic, defeated and would love nothing more than to retire. Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dead-on was circa 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Dead-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead-on. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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