killing

¹kill·ing

noun \ˈki-liŋ\

Definition of KILLING

1

: the act of one that kills

2

: kill 2a

3

: a sudden notable gain or profit <made a killing in the stock market>

Examples of KILLING

1. The oil spill is responsible for the killing of thousands of birds.

First Known Use of KILLING

15th century

Rhymes with KILLING

billing, drilling, filling, milling, schilling, shilling, twilling, willing

²killing

adjective

Definition of KILLING

1

: that kills or relates to killing

2

: highly amusing

3

: extremely difficult to deal with <the suspense is killing>; also : calling for great strength, stamina, or endurance <a killing schedule>

— kill·ing·ly \-lē\ adverb

Examples of KILLING

1. <he's usually quiet, but occasionally unleashes some killing remark that cracks everyone up>
2. <a killing schedule that requires the touring company to play in a different city every night>

First Known Use of KILLING

15th century

Related to KILLING

Synonyms

antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, hysterical (also hysteric), funny, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious

Antonyms

humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Related Words

amusing, diverting, entertaining; clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany; facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery; jocular, playful, waggish; campy, jokey (also joky); priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry; blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful

Near Antonyms

earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty; affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic (also tragical); lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful