euthanize

verb

eu·​tha·​nize ˈyü-thə-ˌnīz 

variants or less commonly euthanatize

yü-ˈtha-nə-ˌtīz 

euthanized also euthanatized; euthanizing also euthanatizing

transitive verb

: to subject to euthanasia

Examples of euthanize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fourteen were found dead, three had to be humanely euthanized due to the severity of their conditions, and four more died after the rescue as a result of pre-existing illnesses. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

One of the cats was euthanized because of the severity of its condition, authorities said. —Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

The first wolf to be killed was euthanized by mistake, officials admitted, after a game warden shot it from a helicopter without realizing that the animal was still a juvenile. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025

In the laboratory, scientists have euthanized hatchlings and examined them internally to learn that certain steady incubation temperatures produce certain ratios of males to females. —Elizabeth Preston, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek euthanatos

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for euthanize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Medical Definition

euthanize

transitive verb

eu·​tha·​nize

ˈyü-thə-ˌnīz

variants also euthanatize

yu̇-ˈthan-ə-ˌtīz

euthanized also euthanatized; euthanizing also euthanatizing

: to subject to euthanasia

the dog was euthanized at the owner's request