kill off

verb

killed off; killing off; kills off
Synonyms of kill offnext

transitive verb

: to destroy in large numbers or totally

Examples of kill off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The parasite can also be killed off by cooking produce to a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit. — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Cousin Matthew, however, was not long for this world and was killed off after Stevens opted to leave the show in pursuit of new opportunities. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 His character was later revealed to be an FBI informant before being killed off during the show's second season. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 An enforcer for Tony Soprano, Pastore’s character was featured in 30 episodes over the run of the series, even though his character was killed off in The Sopranos’ Season 2 finale. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kill off

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kill off was in 1607

Rhymes for kill off

See All Rhymes for kill off

Browse Nearby Words

kill-kid
kill off
killogie
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kill off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20off. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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