euthanize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Usage
What does euthanize mean? Euthanize means to painlessly put a person or animal to death. The decision to euthanize a person is usually made because they have a painful, incurable disease or condition which will cause them to die slowly and in great pain. Where it is legal, the dying person must consent to being euthanized and only a doctor or other permitted person is legally able to end that person’s life. With animals, the decision is usually left to the animal’s owner, with a veterinarian or other qualified person actually ending the animal’s life. Animals are also usually euthanized because they are in great pain that cannot be relieved any other way. Euthanize is also written as euthanatize. In British English, the spellings euthanise and euthanatise are also used. Example: A veterinarian sometimes has to euthanize an animal when they will otherwise suffer a painful death.
Etymology
Origin of euthanize
First recorded in 1960–65; euthan(asia) + -ize
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.
See Examples For:
Cox’s business, Honor Pet, provides water cremation, a.k.a aquamation, on-site so if people use their facility to euthanize their pet, they can have aquamation done in the same facility.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025
These are places that receive a significant influx of animals, either by owner surrender or retrieval, and would rather have people claim them than be forced to euthanize them.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2024
In May 2022, Haddix confided to Cunningham that she planned to euthanize the chimp; she said the animal’s veterinarian told her Tonka was so unwell it was cruel to keep him alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2024
La SPA, a French organization dedicated to the protection of animals, said in a statement Monday that it condemns Delon’s wish “to euthanize his dog.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024
“My contact said the normal protocol would have been to euthanize the coyote on arrival. I think this is a good sign.”
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
State officials dispute that, saying bears are euthanized only in extreme circumstances such as after they’ve hurt someone or committed repeated break-ins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Wildlife officials caught and euthanized two alligators in the area, which measured 12 feet and 13 feet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Blondie swiped the woman’s leg, and was subsequently euthanized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026
In the first two months of this year, 284 dogs were euthanized at city shelters, a 39% increase compared with January and February 2025 despite a 6% decrease in dog intakes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
A 25-year-old Spanish woman was euthanized last month by medical personnel on her request and with the approval of authorities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
Despite the wipeout infestations and mass euthanizing, Farm Action alleges the size of egg-laying flocks in 2025 are, on average, only about 5 percent smaller, on a month-to-month basis, than they were in 2021.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2025
“He got extra treats, critical care and veg today. And attention,” the vet said in an email announcing the plans for euthanizing him.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 13, 2023
Its approach, however, has critics who argue that keeping animals alive but locked in kennels in overcrowded conditions is inhumane, and worse than euthanizing them peacefully.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2023
The raccoon was then tested for the disease, which came back negative, but necessitated euthanizing it, Latti said.
From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2023
Even if they were euthanizing the animals, it didn’t add up.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
