kill off

verb

killed off; killing off; kills off

transitive verb

: to destroy in large numbers or totally

Examples of kill off 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.
The stage for this uptick was set when the current bird flu outbreak began in the U.S. in 2022 and the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, killed off egg-laying poultry en masse, leaving fewer chickens behind to maintain the supply. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 July 2025 Though there’s no official acknowledgment that the theory is sound, the series dropped hints all season, including calling the ship heaven, giving max a twin, having Avery panic over a (false) pregnancy and killing off unimportant characters. Claire Franken, TVLine, 30 June 2025 Through a series of childhood games, more than 400 players are killed off until one person is left alive, subsequently winning millions of dollars. Skyler Trepel, People.com, 30 June 2025 The only likable new character would be killed off in the second episode. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for kill off

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kill off was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Kill off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20off. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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