1
as in destroys
to deprive of life
during the war more soldiers were killed by disease than anything else
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismisses
to reject by or as if by a vote
the Senate killed the bill by a single vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deletes
to show (something written) to be no longer valid by drawing a cross over or a line through it
I think that paragraph is irrelevant, so kill it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in wears
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike up the mountain just about killed us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in fascinates
to attract or delight as if by magic
with his dark good looks he would positively kill the ladies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in deactivates
to cause to stop functioning
kill the engine before it overheats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kills
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
His film Ring, directed by Hideo Nakata, centered on a cursed videotape that kills viewers seven days after watching it.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
At the end of the book, feeling heartbroken about Marcus’ involvement in Nancy’s death, Mary kills Howard by giving him too many painkillers.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
The intense heat under the plastic not only kills grass and weeds but also cooks their root systems and seeds, providing a fresh slate for meadow plants.
—Ann Hinga Klein, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Being down 3-0 in a series kills most teams, too.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
During major events such as the State of the Union address, a member of the president’s Cabinet who is in the line of succession is kept at an obscure location in case an unforeseen event kills the president, vice president and other top leaders.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The story begins with a law from ancient Greece, in which Orestes kills his mother and is set free.
—Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
When mixed with a sweet ingredient like jelly or even peanut butter, ants consume the boric acid, and the solution slowly kills them by disrupting their digestive and nervous systems, eventually dehydrating the ants.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026
Cos-Okpalla clinched three of the last five points for Texas A&M with two kills and an assisted block, including a final kill over the middle for match point.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Pugh then scored on back-to-back kills later in the set, scored on a block and scored on a kill for the final point of the set.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Harris had two kills during a 5-1 run that closed out the first game and a kill, block and ace during a comeback in the second game.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Samorajczyk said that high temperatures are what kills weeds with Foamstream or AquaPro and also noted that the DOT is speaking with vendors and scientists who are developing this technology to have a wand on the front bumper to kill weeds on guiderails.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
His film Ring, directed by Hideo Nakata, centered on a cursed videotape that kills viewers seven days after watching it.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
At the end of the book, feeling heartbroken about Marcus’ involvement in Nancy’s death, Mary kills Howard by giving him too many painkillers.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
The intense heat under the plastic not only kills grass and weeds but also cooks their root systems and seeds, providing a fresh slate for meadow plants.
—Ann Hinga Klein, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Being down 3-0 in a series kills most teams, too.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
During major events such as the State of the Union address, a member of the president’s Cabinet who is in the line of succession is kept at an obscure location in case an unforeseen event kills the president, vice president and other top leaders.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The story begins with a law from ancient Greece, in which Orestes kills his mother and is set free.
—Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
When mixed with a sweet ingredient like jelly or even peanut butter, ants consume the boric acid, and the solution slowly kills them by disrupting their digestive and nervous systems, eventually dehydrating the ants.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
Texas picked it up in the second half and finished with 37 deflections and four kills — a kill represents three consecutive defensive stops — to stymie a Bulldogs team that had won four of its last five games on the road.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026
Cos-Okpalla clinched three of the last five points for Texas A&M with two kills and an assisted block, including a final kill over the middle for match point.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Pugh then scored on back-to-back kills later in the set, scored on a block and scored on a kill for the final point of the set.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Harris had two kills during a 5-1 run that closed out the first game and a kill, block and ace during a comeback in the second game.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kills
Verb
-
Levine Cava said the Kelly Tractor project destroys too many wetlands and bypasses county rules on approving development proposed outside Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The novel begins with a deadly fire that destroys two tenements.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When bumbling village policeman Derry (an endearing Nicholas Braun) dismisses any suspicion of foul play despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it’s left to the sheep to prove otherwise — despite no ability to converse with their human counterparts beyond Lassie-style leading and hinting.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Ohio Republican Party chairman, Alex Triantafilou, dismisses Putsch's attacks as typical for a primary election.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Disney deletes all data within 30 days except in cases where it must be maintained for legal or fraud-prevention purposes.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Carrie makes the internal transfer on the system, moving me from my old role to my new one, ‘accidentally’ deletes the job listing from the website, and then rescues my employee profile from the digital abyss.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Isabella is thin and tall, and wears high heels and low-cut dresses.—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Prince Harry wears a serious expression with an earpiece at the Kyiv Security Forum in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 23.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is your chance to pursue whatever subject most fascinates you.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The cause of brain freeze fascinates neurologists and Slurpee lovers alike, and the science behind it is especially captivating.—
Julia Daye,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The man looks down almost immediately after the light turns on when the light deactivates.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This higher temperature darkens the paste, slightly caramelizes the sugar, and deactivates enzymes that would otherwise break down pectin, resulting in a thicker, more cooked-tasting product.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nataliia had gone to the bus station, where soldiers were spraying foam to contain the nuclear fallout, and to the hospital, where men in white coats were unloading victims on stretchers from the backs of ambulances.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Quick drying and odor-resistant, Athleta’s Salutation Stash High-rise 5-inch Shorts came in handy for active afternoons and easily lasted a few wears between washes.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Long-staple, zero-twist cotton textiles remain fluffy after washes, in my experience.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kills. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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