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 Oilers killed off three of four attempts by the Flames. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Those conditions were rejected, and it was agreed that John Dutton’s character would be killed off in the first episode of the second half of season five. Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025 Then in September, the show killed off its first major character, surgeon Doug McBride (Jason Graham). Claire Franken, TVLine, 6 Oct. 2025 As such, they are promptly killed off. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 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 13 Oct. 2025.

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