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.
By putting the pension reform on the chopping block, Lecornu threatens to kill off one of Macron’s main economic legacies at a time when France’s public finances are in a perilous state, leaving the president with little in the way of domestic achievements after eight years in office. CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 Maybe, in the future, diabetes and obesity will kill off those who really enjoy fat and sugar, and so change the reward system. Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025 The other pretty much risk-free option is to cook them, which kills off any vibrio that might be in the meat. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025 In the end, Marinis decided to kill off Beltran, who dies of internal bleeding due to her injuries. Max Gao, Variety, 10 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2025.

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