mercy killing

noun

Examples of mercy killing in a Sentence

Some called her death a mercy killing.
Recent Examples on the Web DJ Anne Harris is largely focused on mercy killing her relationship with Siobhan for Siobhan’s own good. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2021 The doctor carried out the mercy killing with her family’s consent and support. Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019 The woman later gave mixed signals about her desire to die, but the doctor, in close consultation with the woman’s family, decided to go ahead with the mercy killing. Mike Corder, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2019 In the Bollinger case, a handicapped baby was refused a lifesaving operation in Chicago in 1915, touching off a national debate over mercy killing the mentally disabled. Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018 After both of those mercy kill eliminations, there's only one more woman cut at the actual rose ceremony this week: poor Bibi. Ashley Iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, 16 Jan. 2018 In fact, the roots of mercy killing in modern times are lodged in the unsavory and downright savage practices of the last century. Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018 Spirit Airlines has since come out to deny any wrongdoing, saying that while Aldecosea was misinformed initially by the airline initially, a gate representative did not suggest mercy killing Pebbles. Sarah Weldon, Cosmopolitan, 8 Feb. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mercy killing.' 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

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mercy killing was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near mercy killing

Cite this Entry

“Mercy killing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercy%20killing. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mercy killing

noun

Medical Definition

mercy killing

noun
mer·​cy kill·​ing ˈmər-sē-ˌkil-iŋ How to pronounce mercy killing (audio)

Legal Definition

mercy killing

noun
mer·​cy kill·​ing

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