smoking gun
noun
: something that serves as conclusive evidence or proof (as of a crime or scientific theory)
Examples of smoking gun in a Sentence
This document is the smoking gun that proves that he was lying.
Recent Examples on the Web
Posner doubts the lack of a smoking gun in the final documents would fully extinguish the other theories of how and why Kennedy was killed.
—
Andy Rose, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Get yourself a cheap smoking gun and pipe smoke into a container that has the cinnamon syrup, then close the lid.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2025
There are no smoking guns in Jim’s investigation — only yearslong legal cases that hinge on technical details like the metal composition of a tiny bomb component.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025
Some experts have said the public shouldn’t anticipate smoking guns that upend history.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoking gun 
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.
Andy Rose, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025
Get yourself a cheap smoking gun and pipe smoke into a container that has the cinnamon syrup, then close the lid.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2025
There are no smoking guns in Jim’s investigation — only yearslong legal cases that hinge on technical details like the metal composition of a tiny bomb component.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025
Some experts have said the public shouldn’t anticipate smoking guns that upend history.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoking gun
Dictionary Entries Near smoking gun
Cite this Entry
“Smoking gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smoking%20gun. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share