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

In 2025, the Beyem Seyo pack killed nearly 100 cattle in about seven months in Plumas and Sierra counties, prompting wildlife officials to euthanize four wolves. — Scott Lebar. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

According to ​a Shedd news release, the current caretakers of Marineland of Canada, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, threatened to euthanize the whales. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

The Norwegian government ultimately euthanized Freya after she was deemed a threat to human safety – with people getting dangerously close to her in the water for photos, or throwing objects at her, despite officials warning them to stay away. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

The high rate of kills prompted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to take the unprecedented step of euthanizing four gray wolves from the Beyem Seyo pack that were responsible for 70 livestock deaths in less than six months. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 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