killing

Preposition: of

• civilian: The killing of innocent civilians is the issue here.
• hostage: The legality of the killing of hostages came up for consideration in the judgment.
• badger: For more information, see: Act now to stop the killing of badgers.

Converse of object

• condemn: No one has yet condemned the killing of an innocent man.
• condone: You can no longer remain in the background - unless of course you condone the killing of innocent animals in this terrible way.
• legalize: Allowing difficult cases to create a precedent for legalized killing is the wrong response.

Adjective modifier

• extra-judicial: The extra-judicial killing of Sr de Menezes has all the problems in a nutshell - the pursuit was amateurish from start to finish.
• unlawful: At a later inquest the jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing.
• intentional: Are there rules that prohibit the intentional killing of a conjoined twin?
• indiscriminate: The prosecution submitted affidavit evidence of over twenty instances of indiscriminate killing of Italians by German troops during the relevant period.
• extrajudicial: There are no more prisoners of conscience, no more extrajudicial killings, and civil liberties are, by and large, respected.
• sectarian: We have busted several gangs involved in sectarian killings.

Modifies a noun

• spree: Locked away for many years in a mental hospital Michael escapes one night and returns to his home to continue his killing spree.
• verdict: The police officers involved then attempted to get the unlawful killing verdict overturned, but failed.

Noun used with modifier

• gangland: A web of gangland killings, corrupt cops, sentient bloodstains, and very rude hotel receptionists.
• tit-for-tat: Most of these are tit-for-tat killings between IFP supporters and members of the ANC.
• mercy: The new guidelines on mercy killing should see me in the clear.
• reprisal: Surely the time has come for both sides to act with restraint, and in the name of humanity stop the constant reprisal killings.
• revenge: The villagers kept their children away from him, so it looks as if this a revenge killing.
• honor: He frequently took on cases involving custody disputes and honor killings.