kill off

verb

killed off; killing off; kills off

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.
Halfway through Season 2, the AMC drama killed off not one or two but three characters and forewarned us that a fourth wouldn’t be around for much longer. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 1 June 2025 Over the course of seven episodes, the adaptation of the PlayStation game has charted a bloody path through its apocalyptic take on Seattle, killing off characters left and right — some having a greater impact than others. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025 Carolina outshot the Panthers 10-7 and killed off a Florida power play early in the game. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025 Animals dosed with antibiotics to kill off their microbiomes exercise less than mice with healthy microbiomes and reach exhaustion faster. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 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 5 Jun. 2025.

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