kill 1 of 2

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as in to dismiss
to reject by or as if by a vote the Senate killed the bill by a single vote

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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kill

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word kill distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of kill are assassinate, dispatch, execute, murder, and slay. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

In what contexts can assassinate take the place of kill?

While in some cases nearly identical to kill, assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

When would dispatch be a good substitute for kill?

While the synonyms dispatch and kill are close in meaning, dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

When is it sensible to use execute instead of kill?

The meanings of execute and kill largely overlap; however, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

Where would murder be a reasonable alternative to kill?

The synonyms murder and kill are sometimes interchangeable, but murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

When might slay be a better fit than kill?

In some situations, the words slay and kill are roughly equivalent. However, slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of kill
Verb
Senior setter Anna Flores has been an all-around machine, leading the team with 565 assists and 235 kills. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2025 The 25-second video clip, filmed by Robin Fisher, shows the shark coming in for the kill, then quickly changing its mind about swallowing the camera. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
The disinfectant can kill bacteria that cause odors. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025 Mona Khalil’s son was killed by a drone on his way to a falafel stand. Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kill
Verb
  • Almost every building is damaged or destroyed beyond repair.
    Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
  • According to Craig Croucher of the Bot Builders, around 300 spectators turned out to watch the robots destroy each other.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Biden administration dismissed the lawsuit, and prosecutors dropped a grand jury investigation the following year.
    NPR, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The revelation immediately erupted into a political crisis, with the head of prisons dismissed and Guatemalans threatening to protest.
    New York Times, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, that has all changed over the past few days as reports from outlets including , and uncovered past messages from Platner written on the message board site Reddit – some of which have been deleted as Platner seeks to distance himself from them.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • In early 2022, not long before the suit with Giuffre was settled, his social media accounts were deleted, and on his page on the royal family’s website, his duties were changed to be listed in the past tense.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tempo could help wear them out, as the Giants have pressured the quarterback on nearly 46% of their defensive snaps when Carter, Burns and Thibodeaux are on the field at the same time, according to Next Gen Stats.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In her bestie Selena Gomez’s wedding photos, the Rare Beauty founder appeared to wear a number of white dresses for her nuptials to Benny Blanco in September.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Not only this, but fascinated by the sundials and time-telling monuments inside the course, Hovland reportedly skipped swing practice to soak in the heritage.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That discovery opened a world of luxury candles, leading me to discover storied fragrance houses like Trudon and Astier de Villatte, fascinated by their intricate scent pyramids and captivating descriptions.
    Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Curry, the younger brother of Steph Curry, has spent the last few weeks at the team's facility working out, but had been deactivated for preseason games.
    Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Remoteness draws the witness — or victim — forward and into the circle of the predator’s personality.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
  • And at its climax, the Grabber, the franchise killer played by Ethan Hawke, gracefully stalks his victims on ice skates, ready to lop some heads with an axe.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Delving into the tragic murder of Ajike Owens, a Black Florida woman, at the hands of her white neighbor Susan Lorincz, the new film from prolific documentarian Geeta Gandbhir examines issues of race, class, community, and surveillance.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • If your race is in the morning, eat a high-carbohydrate breakfast, such as a bagel or oatmeal.
    Laurel Leicht, Health, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Kill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kill. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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