kill off

verb

killed off; killing off; kills off

transitive verb

: to destroy in large numbers or totally

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web However, like all enterprises that cater to human appetites, vice businesses are hard to kill off. Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2022 Due to unregulated hunting in the pioneer era, bears in the Cross Timbers Region, as well as in northeast Texas, were killed off. Jordyn Harrell, Dallas News, 10 Apr. 2023 That line was killed off and replaced with the Nest Audio speakers. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 7 Apr. 2023 Kia is killing off the Stinger after the 2023 model year, but not without a special edition to give the sporty hatchback a proper sendoff. Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 6 Apr. 2023 Then, his character got cruelly killed off on the season 2 finale of that series, and the ABC drama just wasn't the same. Lanford Beard, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2023 The disease may be killing off animals in hordes without scientists realizing, warned Dr. Vance Vredenburg, a professor of biology at San Francisco State University and a research associate at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 24 Mar. 2023 Diane Farr does survive, but this show was not afraid to kill off major characters well before the finale. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023 Murray was killed off between season 9 and the show's 10th and final season, which premiered last September. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kill off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kill off was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near kill off

Cite this Entry

“Kill off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20off. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

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