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

Police can be called out to euthanize dying animals as needed, Cotter said. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Staff euthanized the bear in the Delta Lake area and removed its carcass from the backcountry the following morning. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

The bear was immobilized with a tranquilizing dart and then euthanized on site at Delta Lake inside the park, a remote backcountry location, according to park authorities. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Farm Adventures later addressed the situation in a statement posted to Facebook, saying four of its baby goats had contracted rabies and were euthanized. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek euthanatos

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for euthanize

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

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