killing off

Definition of killing offnext
present participle of kill off
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for killing 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
Verb
  • Then, Sky slammed Asuka and jumped off the table, taking out Asuka with a crossbody block.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
  • Instead of slaying a burgundy and blue dragon by taking out the Avs’ second-best player, the Wild officially woke up the beast.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • The research suggests that staving off loneliness requires putting away our devices and connecting with other people in person.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
  • And the bullpen highlighted by Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg augmented by the addition of Matt Strahm figures to give them an advantage in putting away games.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The upstart Anaheim Ducks knocking off Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 3 May 2026
  • Atascocita rose to the occasion again, however, knocking off the Spartans in another overtime thriller.
    Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Here, up to 20 courses are prepared with ritual precision, from seafood treated with the ikejime (humane fish-slaughtering) method, to rice and wasabi sourced from long-standing Japanese suppliers.
    Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 10 May 2026
  • Livestock numbers are strictly controlled on Tristan, and the community manages the herd by occasionally slaughtering animals for meat and leather.
    NPR, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
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
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
Verb
  • Red clover stands taller, is less amenable to mowing, and can be short-lived.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
  • Avoid mowing in the early morning or mid-day, as wet grass and strong sunlight can harm your lawn.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
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

Cite this Entry

“Killing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/killing%20off. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster