Thesaurus

kill

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

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Synonyms & Antonyms of kill

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 to deprive of life

during the war more soldiers were killed by disease than anything else

Synonyms for kill

Words Related to kill

bump off,
butcher,
cut down,
finish,
get,
ice
[slang],
knock off,
murder,
neutralize,
off
[slang],
put away,
rub out,
scrag,
snuff,
take out,
waste,
whack
[slang]

suicide

Phrases Synonymous with kill

do away with,
do for
[chiefly British],
make away with

Near Antonyms for kill

nurture

Antonyms for kill

animate

2 to reject by or as if by a vote

the Senate killed the bill by a single vote

Synonyms for kill

Words Related to kill

blacklist

Near Antonyms for kill

elect,
support

Antonyms for kill

confirm,
ratify

3 to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it

I think that paragraph is irrelevant, so kill it

Synonyms for kill

Words Related to kill

Near Antonyms for kill

stet

4 to use up all the physical energy of

the long hike up the mountain just about killed us

Synonyms for kill

Words Related to kill

Phrases Synonymous with kill

wear to a frazzle

Near Antonyms for kill

5 to attract or delight as if by magic

with his dark good looks he would positively kill the ladies

Synonyms for kill

Words Related to kill

Near Antonyms for kill

6 to cause to stop functioning

kill the engine before it overheats

Synonyms for kill

Words Related to kill

flick (off)

Near Antonyms for kill

Antonyms for kill

kill

noun

Synonyms & Antonyms of kill (Entry 2 of 2)

1 as in victim

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for kill

victim

game

target

Antonyms & Near Antonyms for kill

predator

carnivore

killer,
murderer

2 as in cut, race

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for kill

bayou,
coulee,
slough
(also slew or slue),
stream,
wash

arroyo,
billabong
[Australian],
fresh,
freshet,
runoff

beck
[British],
bourn
(or bourne),
brook,
brooklet,
burn
[British],
creek,
gill
[British],
rill,
rivulet,
run
[chiefly Midland],
runlet,
runnel,
streamlet

Frequently Asked Questions About kill

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

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