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

Mia is the second tiger to be euthanized this year from Oakland Zoo. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2026

In January, Lola was euthanized at the age of about 15 after an infection in her paw spread to the rest of her body, the zoo said. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

State officials have euthanized a bear who swiped a woman in Monrovia over the weekend despite objections from city officials who asked that the female bear and her two cubs be relocated to the Angeles National Forest. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026

The youngest were 16 and 17—the first minors in any country ever lawfully euthanized for mental illness. —Charles Lane, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026

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