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.
Minnesota killing off a late-period penalty was about the only highlight for Wild fans, who went to the second intermission a bit stunned at the deficit facing their team. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026 The character got killed off after only one season but afterwards her career took off, with stellar ensemble roles in big-budget films like 2015’s superhero tentpole Fantastic Four and, that same year, Ridley Scott’s massive Matt Damon survival epic The Martian. Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026 The Avs killed off the MacKinnon major penalty, then Sam Malinski found Nichushkin with a shot-pass in the slot for his 14th goal of the year. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026 Allergy season typically lasts until all pollen production is killed off by the first freeze of autumn. Hali Smith march 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Kill off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20off. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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