killing off

verb

present participle of kill off
as in blotting out

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for killing off
  1. blotting out
  2. taking out
  3. putting away
  4. knocking off
  5. slaughtering
  6. bumping off
  7. rubbing out
  8. carrying off
Verb
  • For a few minutes at each end of that window, the moon’s edge will appear to align with that of the sun, blotting out the star’s fierce light and revealing the wispy corona off to one side.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2026
  • From up in the space shuttle, in 1983, astronaut Sally Ride could see the pollution blotting out her Los Angeles hometown.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of blotting out
Verb
  • The Federal Reserve's recent interest rate hike means higher borrowing costs for consumers carrying credit card balances or taking out loans.
    — Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • During the interaction, as the store’s other employees were taking out the trash, the girl was able to leave the store when Malcolm opened the door for them, WDTV reported.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of taking out
Verb
  • Jason Wright threw for a touchdown and ran for another but also had two interceptions as the Bulls (2-2) had trouble putting away the Colonials (2-2).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond coffee, Gottsman said candidates should avoid other distractions or unprofessional impressions by putting away their phones, skipping overpowering fragrances, removing sunglasses from the tops of their heads and avoiding chewing gum.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of putting away
Verb
  • Following wins over Coastal Carolina (31-24) and UT Martin (52-7) to open, perhaps the Mountaineers will get some attention as a Big 12 title contender after knocking off previously unbeaten Virginia.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The Colts were just one touchdown drive away from knocking off the Texans in the regular-season finale and securing a postseason berth, but an errant pass from Minshew on fourth-and-1 spelled the end of their season.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of knocking off
Verb
  • In the present, Kirk has to stop Reeger from wholesale slaughtering an entire planet, which involves beaming into the bowels of the ship to sabotage the ship’s phaser banks.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Many have pointed to the pandemic for slaughtering a number of independent cinemas, but let’s face it, even with streaming easing, the format has made moviegoers more discerning about what’s worth their attention and dollars outside the home.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of slaughtering
Verb
  • In bumping off Ecuador 2-0 Tuesday night in the friendly confines of Estadio Azteca, Mexico has set up Telemundo (and to a lesser extent, Fox) for a post-holiday blockbuster against England.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of bumping off
Verb
  • Also on the trail is a gangster named Clyde (John Magaro), who’s been sent to redo the job of rubbing out the mysteriously undead Ida.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of rubbing out
Verb
  • Zeus acting for his own pleasure underlies the evolutionary tales of small groups raiding foreign shores, carrying off women.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Before the night was out, Germans began chipping away at the barrier, carrying off chunks of one of the symbols of the diminishing Iron Curtain.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of carrying off
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.

Browse Nearby Words

killing fields
killing off
killings
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Cite this Entry

“Killing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killing%20off. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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