silver bullet
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of silver bullet
First recorded in 1930–35; from the belief that supernatural beings, as werewolves, can be killed with a silver bullet
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.
None of these reforms would be a silver bullet against revenge prosecutions, but together they would make such abuses far harder to carry out.
From Slate • May 1, 2026
“It’s not a silver bullet but several pieces of silver buckshot,” said John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
The head of Europe's video game rating system, PEGI, has warned against supposed "silver bullet" child protection solutions such as age verification, in an interview with AFP.
From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026
O'Shea said allowing oil and gas exploration was not a "silver bullet" but "it makes sense, if you've got resources".
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026
Our plane, a giant silver bullet with wings awaits us at the gate.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
