kill off

verb

killed off; killing off; kills off
Synonyms of kill offnext

transitive verb

: to destroy in large numbers or totally

Examples of kill off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In contrast, indeterminate varieties, such as ‘Beefsteak,’ ‘Big Boy,’ ‘Sungold,’ and ‘Sweet Million,’ (among others) provide a steady supply of ripe fruit throughout most of the growing season until the first frost kills off the plants. Cori Sears, The Spruce, 18 Apr. 2026 He gets killed off in most of these movies. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026 Shortly after Buffalo killed off a 5-on-3 power play in the third, Tuch got a stretch pass from Rasmus Dahlin and finished the breakaway for a 3-1 lead. CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026 The Rookie also is yet to kill off a main character — something long-running dramas do for both story and financial reasons. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026 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 24 Apr. 2026.

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