pull the plug

phrase

1
: to disconnect a medical life-support system
2
: to withdraw essential and especially financial support

Examples of pull the plug in a Sentence

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.
Under LaNeve, the service is pulling the plug on a drone modernization program. — Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Under LaNeve, the service is pulling the plug on a drone modernization program that Driscoll had heralded. — Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 How federal agents pulled the plug The Justice Department obtained court authorization to seize domains used by QScan and QTRouter. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Circle City Broadcasting has officially pulled the plug on WRTV for DIRECTV customers as negotiations for retransmission fees reached an impasse. — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pull the plug

Rhymes for pull the plug

See All Rhymes for pull the plug

Browse Nearby Words

pull the chain
pull the plug
pull the rug from under
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pull the plug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20the%20plug. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All