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:
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
Trainer Heath Taylor has had to euthanize seven horses after an outbreak of EIA at his Los Alamitos barn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2024
They made the hard decision to medically euthanize her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2024
In the past several weeks, Rosa’s health deteriorated, and experts at the aquarium decided to euthanize her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 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
He was humanely euthanized by wildlife officials later that same month.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
A week later, Ventura Superior Court Judge Mark S. Borrell sided with the county and ordered the dog to be euthanized.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
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
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
After euthanizing more than half a million chickens at Sunrise Farms, Weber and his employees spent the Christmas holiday discarding the carcasses.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 26, 2024
“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
Even if they were euthanizing the animals, it didn’t add up.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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