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.
The Gophers killed off back-to-back penalties on Chloe Primerano and Huber that came within 31 seconds of each other early in the third, including a lengthy, 1:29 two-person advantage for the Buckeyes, who finished 0 for 3 on the power play. Matt Wellens / Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025 Since returning from the NHL’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Florida has killed off 17 of 18 penalties. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 This kills off the benthic life as well as the more commercially valuable crabs and finfish. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2025 What's worse is not one, but two of the MCU's best characters - Cobie Smulders's Maria Hill and Ben Mendlesohn's Talos - were killed off for this garbage. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kill off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kill%20off. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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