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kill 1 of 2

Definition of killnext
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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

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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
After frost has killed the aboveground vegetation, cut back cannas and dahlias and dig them. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025 Sampson allegedly struck more than a dozen adults who were on an outdoor patio, killing three victims at the scene. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
In a matchup of standout special teams, Dallas' power play went 0 for 4 against Chicago's penalty kill – ranked fourth. CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025 Their penalty kill, good at the start of the season, has fallen on very hard times recently. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kill
Verb
  • So, automation can be used to destroy labor or workers’ power, but it can also be used in the opposite direction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Homes, businesses and synagogues were destroyed.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In September, Hecox filed a notice to dismiss the lawsuit.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Why was Alabama’s 31-17 loss to a 4-8 FSU team so easily dismissed by the committee?
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kardashian actually deleted an earlier version of the post but then put it back up.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Baldoni's lawyers later claimed in a letter to Judge Lewis Liman that Lively previously requested for Swift to delete the women's text messages.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Meyer, meanwhile, wore a white graphic tee with black mini shorts and a Thom Browne top coat, W reported.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
  • He was last seen wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and brown steel-toe boots, police said.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Details of the service were kept private, but the family's public show of solidarity in turning out to support Caroline is typical of the Kennedy dynasty, which has fascinated Americans for decades.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Why does Kubrick’s work continue to fascinate, thrill, and move us?
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Here’s how to deactivate a Hide My Email address.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Police said evidence suggested Salat was aware of the victim’s age and attempted to meet with the child in person.
    Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2026
  • But the jury in the federal civil lawsuit found that Moore violated Gillispie's rights by hiding evidence that would have helped Gillispie's defense and creating unfair lineup procedures for the victims.
    Laura A. Bischoff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Shapiro, meanwhile, keeps a busy public schedule, and has gone out of his way to appear at high-profile, non-political events like football games, a NASCAR race and onstage at a Roots concert in Philadelphia.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Letting that loss linger and turn into back-to-back losses would have been a bad sign about Buffalo’s ability to handle the rigors of what is going to be a white-knuckle playoff race in the Eastern Conference.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Kill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kill. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

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