kill off
Third Person
kills off
Present Participle
killing off
Past Tense
killed off
Past Participle
killed off
1
to cause the death of a character in a work of fiction, typically for dramatic effects or to advance the plot
- The author is planning to kill off one of the main characters in the next book.
- The screenwriter is currently debating whether or not to kill off the protagonist in the upcoming movie.
- The show's writers have killed off several beloved characters over the years.
- The creators of the video game are considering killing off the player's character if they make certain choices.
- The director decided to kill off the character because they felt it would make the story more impactful.
2
to cause the death of a significant number of individuals or organisms
- The disease is killing off entire populations of insects.
- The wildfire is killing off trees and other vegetation in its path.
- The war has killed off thousands of people and displaced many more.
- The famine killed off millions of people in the region.
- Hunting and poaching have historically killed off numerous animal populations.
Synonyms:
3
to effectively put an end to something or make it ineffective
- The government is currently debating a bill that would kill off funding for several programs.
- The company is trying to kill off the competition by offering lower prices.
- The manager killed off the employee's idea because they felt it was too risky.
- The company's willingness to adapt to changing market conditions killed off the threat of obsolescence and ensured its continued success.
- The new technology has killed off the old method of doing things.