kill off
Idioms-
Render extinct, eliminate completely, as in The plague killed off entire villages and towns . [c. 1600]
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Represent as dead, as in This mystery writer kills off a new victim in almost every chapter . [Mid-1800s]
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.
Filmmakers and critics fretted, reasonably, that a Netflix acquisition would kill off the moviegoing experience for good, in light of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ professed antipathy toward theater-exclusive releases.
From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026
Guardiola grew frustrated with City's failure to kill off Newcastle, urging his players to "keep the ball better" as he stalked the touchline.
From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026
Tesla last month announced that it would kill off the Model S and Model X luxury vehicles as it doubles down on autonomous vehicles and robotics.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026
Do you think his Golden State roots will kill off his contender status?
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2025
Is the internet free-for-all going to kill off the very musical endeavour most beloved of its young pirates?
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
