kill 1 of 2

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as in to dismiss
to reject by or as if by a vote the Senate killed the bill by a single vote

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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kill

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of kill
Verb
Investigators were not sure about the relationship with the boy who was killed. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2025 When his family was away on trips, the thrift store owner would lure men to his home and kill them. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
Schedule your content in advance LinkedIn experts say scheduling kills engagement. Jodie Cook, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 There's an easy-to-remember saying that's good for any outdoor adventure: Cotton kills. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kill
Verb
  • Lost in a sea of ash: When wildfire destroys a home — and a loved one’s urn — the search begins.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025
  • This is a major U-turn from Riot, after completely revamping the rewards system at the start of the year and being destroyed by fans for it.
    Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Sassoon’s resignation was followed by additional resignations and firings of other Justice Department lawyers who also refused to assist in dismissing the indictment.
    Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
  • But in dismissing the lawsuit to arbitration last December, Clarke wasn’t moved by the Knicks’ arguments.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Google has now deleted all these apps from its Play Store, but serious damage has been done.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • In the clip, which has now been deleted, she was seen walking up to and touching the turtles.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While Cole pitched for the Pirates and Astros before wearing pinstripes, Fried has spent the majority of his professional career in Atlanta’s organization after initially being drafted by the Padres.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Religious sisters join them, wearing a variety of habits that signal their order, as well as bishops and archbishops.
    Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In 1956, an aspiring young actor named Gene Hackman joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California, struggling to find a way into a field he’d been fascinated with since childhood.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But Dan Hurley has a profound personal story & I was fascinated by how his holistic behind-the-scenes approach & volatile coaching style made Gen Z kids champions.
    Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Gascón eventually deleted the posts, issued an apology then deactivated her X account.
    Jen Juneau, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Why this is important for your business: Important note: this feature is deactivated by default and requires PowerShell with administrator rights to enable.
    Gene Marks, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The victim, identified as Jhoser Sanchez, later died in the hospital.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Newsom holds the ultimate trump card in their case, with the ability to grant clemency to the brothers whose case became a political football and was passed from one district attorney to another, becoming at-risk of becoming a victim of ongoing culture wars.
    Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Amid the apparent race with China, there was uncertainty over the direction of NASA and the future of some of its employees.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Wright referred there to the project conducted by scientists at Los Alamos during World War II to win the race with Germany to produce the first atomic bombs, a race the American scientists ultimately won.
    David Blackmon, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Kill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kill. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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