as in murder
the act of ending the life of someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any further suffering
Some called her death a mercy killing.
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Recent Examples of mercy killing
More secrets emerge, Chappelle says there’s no time to explain, even mercy killing the dog.
—
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2025
DJ Anne Harris is largely focused on mercy killing her relationship with Siobhan for Siobhan’s own good.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2021
The doctor carried out the mercy killing with her family’s consent and support.
—Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019
The woman later gave mixed signals about her desire to die, but the doctor, in close consultation with the woman’s family, decided to go ahead with the mercy killing.
—Mike Corder, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2019
In the Bollinger case, a handicapped baby was refused a lifesaving operation in Chicago in 1915, touching off a national debate over mercy killing the mentally disabled.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
After both of those mercy kill eliminations, there's only one more woman cut at the actual rose ceremony this week: poor Bibi.
—Ashley Iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, 16 Jan. 2018
In fact, the roots of mercy killing in modern times are lodged in the unsavory and downright savage practices of the last century.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Spirit Airlines has since come out to deny any wrongdoing, saying that while Aldecosea was misinformed initially by the airline initially, a gate representative did not suggest mercy killing Pebbles.
—Sarah Weldon, Cosmopolitan, 8 Feb. 2018
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2025
DJ Anne Harris is largely focused on mercy killing her relationship with Siobhan for Siobhan’s own good.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2021
The doctor carried out the mercy killing with her family’s consent and support.
—Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019
The woman later gave mixed signals about her desire to die, but the doctor, in close consultation with the woman’s family, decided to go ahead with the mercy killing.
—Mike Corder, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2019
In the Bollinger case, a handicapped baby was refused a lifesaving operation in Chicago in 1915, touching off a national debate over mercy killing the mentally disabled.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
After both of those mercy kill eliminations, there's only one more woman cut at the actual rose ceremony this week: poor Bibi.
—Ashley Iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, 16 Jan. 2018
In fact, the roots of mercy killing in modern times are lodged in the unsavory and downright savage practices of the last century.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Spirit Airlines has since come out to deny any wrongdoing, saying that while Aldecosea was misinformed initially by the airline initially, a gate representative did not suggest mercy killing Pebbles.
—Sarah Weldon, Cosmopolitan, 8 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercy killing
Noun
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Among the editions that helped The Observer earn a top-10 designation were cover stories on the 40th anniversary of the Sweet 16, on the 25th anniversary of the Rae Carruth murder trial, on Johnson C. Smith football, and a feature package on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.—
Observer staff report,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2025
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This comes as police killings have also long raised concerns from the public, most notably leading to massive Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020 following the death of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of his murder.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The man was accused of strangling his 61-year-old victim and hitting the man’s head against the ground near a gas station on Washington Street near Fourth Avenue shortly before 5 p.m., San Diego homicide Lt. Lou Maggi said in a news release.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Officer Anthony Gamble, a department spokesperson, said that victim was in critical condition and that homicide detectives were investigating the scene.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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A week after the massacre, two hundred soldiers and six hundred and fifty Chinese miners arrived in Rock Springs.—
Michael Luo,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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Additionally, a camera operator on the doc appears to have shown support on social media for the Oct. 7 massacre in 2023, when Hamas killed around 1,200 people.—
Lily Ford,
The Hollywood Reporter,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Marijuana legalization, assisted suicide, voting procedures and school curriculum are additional examples of issues where states have set their own policies.—
Claire B. Wofford,
The Conversation,
27 Jan. 2025
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Canada under Trudeau expanded the culture of death to adults as well, legalizing medically assisted suicide in 2016 and then expanding the situations in which it is permitted in 2021.—
The Editors,
National Review,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mercy killing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercy%20killing. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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