kill off

verb

killed off; killing off; kills off

transitive verb

: to destroy in large numbers or totally

Examples of kill off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Another project: the return of the dodo, which was killed off about 350 years ago. Mike Snider, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025 The New Directions sing various songs to honor the memory of Monteith's character Finn Hudson, who the creators killed off. Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2025 Though his character is killed off early on in the latter movie by Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey alter ego Dark Phoenix, Marsden returned in a brief cameo role in 2014’s time-warping X-Men: Days of Future Past, which erases his death and that of other X-Men characters. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2025 Bungie has killed off the EAZ and Bonfire Bash, the unique activity that rolled around once a year. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kill off

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Kill off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20off. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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