Synonyms

at gunpoint

Idioms

Also, at knifepoint. Under coercion, as in I'm going to hold him at gunpoint for that raise he promised me last year. Both these phrases were at first used literally and later also figuratively. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A Minneapolis pastor who protested ICE by chanting “We are not afraid” was detained at gunpoint by an agent who reportedly asked him: “Are you afraid now?”

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

At Kenwood High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, a 16-year-old student was handcuffed at gunpoint after an AI-powered security system misidentified a crumpled bag of Doritos as a firearm.

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2025

Kim Kardashian West was back in the United States on Monday after being held at gunpoint during a robbery overnight in Paris, where she was attending Fashion Week.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2025

Ahn Gwi-ryeong, the 35-year-old spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party found herself facing down soldiers at gunpoint.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2024

One of the people being held at gunpoint was Sergeant Bruce Prothero, a thirty-five-year-old, thirteen-year veteran of the Baltimore County police department.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023