1
as in destroys
to deprive of life
during the war more soldiers were killed by disease than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismisses
to reject by or as if by a vote
the Senate killed the bill by a single vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deletes
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it
I think that paragraph is irrelevant, so kill it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in wears
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike up the mountain just about killed us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in fascinates
to attract or delight as if by magic
with his dark good looks he would positively kill the ladies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in deactivates
to cause to stop functioning
kill the engine before it overheats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 kills
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
They're also usually eaten without cooking, a process that kills said bacteria.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
The titular azelaic acid decongests pores, kills bacteria, soothes inflammation, sloughs off dead cells, and smooths uneven texture.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
However, Maya turns the tables and alternatively kills Dollface.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
The law also tripled sentences when a dealer gives someone a drug that kills them.
—Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 9 Feb. 2026
Nepal crash kills 13 in wedding party KATHMANDU, Nepal -- A bus carrying a wedding party veered off a mountain road in west Nepal and tumbled down a slope in a crash that killed at least 13 people while 34 more were injured, police said Friday.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
Encephalitis occurs in about one of every 1,000 measles cases and kills about one in five people who develop it.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Early-morning strike kills 11, including two children Israeli troops fired on a building in the Tuffah neighborhood in northern Gaza, killing at least 11 people, most from the same family, said Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026
Cos-Okpalla clinched three of the last five points for Texas A&M with two kills and an assisted block, including a final kill over the middle for match point.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Pugh then scored on back-to-back kills later in the set, scored on a block and scored on a kill for the final point of the set.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Harris had two kills during a 5-1 run that closed out the first game and a kill, block and ace during a comeback in the second game.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
The virus spreads to a glioblastoma cell, kills it, and then makes a copy of itself that spreads again to another glioblastoma cell.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
They're also usually eaten without cooking, a process that kills said bacteria.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
The titular azelaic acid decongests pores, kills bacteria, soothes inflammation, sloughs off dead cells, and smooths uneven texture.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
However, Maya turns the tables and alternatively kills Dollface.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
The law also tripled sentences when a dealer gives someone a drug that kills them.
—Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 9 Feb. 2026
Nepal crash kills 13 in wedding party KATHMANDU, Nepal -- A bus carrying a wedding party veered off a mountain road in west Nepal and tumbled down a slope in a crash that killed at least 13 people while 34 more were injured, police said Friday.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
Encephalitis occurs in about one of every 1,000 measles cases and kills about one in five people who develop it.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Early-morning strike kills 11, including two children Israeli troops fired on a building in the Tuffah neighborhood in northern Gaza, killing at least 11 people, most from the same family, said Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
Texas picked it up in the second half and finished with 37 deflections and four kills — a kill represents three consecutive defensive stops — to stymie a Bulldogs team that had won four of its last five games on the road.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026
Cos-Okpalla clinched three of the last five points for Texas A&M with two kills and an assisted block, including a final kill over the middle for match point.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Pugh then scored on back-to-back kills later in the set, scored on a block and scored on a kill for the final point of the set.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Harris had two kills during a 5-1 run that closed out the first game and a kill, block and ace during a comeback in the second game.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kills
Verb
-
The rising trend was driven by wellness influencers and raw milk advocates who believe that the pasteurization process destroys bioactives, which are chemicals found in plants and certain foods that promote good health.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Composting leaves destroys juglone in 6 to 12 months, but hulls take much longer.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After Achillia gains victory in the arena and brings triumph to the House of Ashur, Caesar dismisses the agreement that would see Ashur gain favor among the Roman Empire.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … CABLE CRACKDOWN – FCC dismisses liberal hosts as agency enforces anti-bias policy.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The president posts, and 12 hours later, deletes an overtly racist video of Barack and Michelle Obama.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The new draft deletes controversial elements of a 2025 version of the standards that the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down over violations of state open meeting laws.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Edmund wears Nike Air Jordans in the same shade of siren red and is pictured on one knee in front of an elaborate altar of red and pink roses and candles.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
It should be noted that Ruffalo’s detective is unkempt in direct proportion to the way Hemsworth wears a tailored black suit.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
How golfers rely on — and leverage — technology fascinates Skenes, from the numbers culled relative to swing speed and ball flight to how their bodies must be in sync to generate so much club speed.—
Tribune News Service,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
-
What fascinates me as a writer is what is sometimes left out of the historical record, what gets tucked away in odd places.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This higher temperature darkens the paste, slightly caramelizes the sugar, and deactivates enzymes that would otherwise break down pectin, resulting in a thicker, more cooked-tasting product.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The heat from the water also deactivates enzymes that break down pigments.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Family members of the shooting victims cried as the sentence was handed down.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Nelson, one of the shooting victims, who was in the passenger seat of the van, fired twice in self-defense before the truck drove away, according to the lawsuit filed by the family against the Police Department.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The selection features body washes and creams, hand soaps and sanitizers, fine fragrance mists, lip glosses, candles, and decorative accessories.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Flare and bootcut silhouettes with clean washes signaled a more directional mood.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kills. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
