kill

[kil] / kɪl /

VERB

deprive of existence; destroy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assassinate drown execute get hit massacre murder poison slaughter slay wipe out

STRONG

annihilate asphyxiate crucify dispatch dump electrocute eradicate erase exterminate extirpate finish garrote guillotine hang immolate liquidate lynch neutralize obliterate off sacrifice smother snuff strangle suffocate waste zap

WEAK

do away with do in polish off put away put to death rub out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

save

STRONG

free help leave alone let go maintain preserve

VERB

turn off; cancel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

stop

STRONG

annul cease counteract deaden defeat extinguish forbid halt negative neutralize nix nullify prohibit quash quell recant refuse revoke ruin smother stifle still suppress veto

WEAK

X out shut off turn out

Antonyms

STRONG

OK aid allow approve assist authorize continue create encourage permit sanction start support validate

WEAK

begin initiate turn on

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She had strong opinions about Hemingway: “Those big tough guys are so sick, they aren’t even all that tough. … They always want to kill something to prove themselves.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

Live free or die, but would it kill you to wear a tie?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Conversely, if you knew an incurable cancer would kill you at 65, you’d probably take Social Security at your earliest eligibility of 62.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

That repair process can help cancer cells survive conditions that would otherwise kill them.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

With time to kill, I headed east, jigging my route so I could inspect different buildings and shop windows.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

kill

Example Sentences

Related Words