killing Hear it!

killing Definition

kill·ing (kil)

adjective

  1. causing, or able to cause, death; destructive; deadly
  2. exhausting; fatiguing
  3. Informal very funny or comical

noun

  1. the act or an instance of murder, destruction, etc.
  2. Informal a sudden, great profit or success to make a killing in the stock market

killing Related Forms

kill·ingly adverb

killing Synonyms

killing

modif.

  1. Destructive

    mortal, lethal, fatal; see deadly 1, destructive 2.

  2. *Funny

    ludicrous, overpowering, irresistible; see funny 1.

killing Synonyms

killing

n.

  1. Murder

    slaying, assassination, slaughter; see crime 2, murder.

  2. *A sudden great profit

    windfall, bonanza, coup; see profit 2, success 2.

killing Usage Examples

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.

Browse dictionary entries near killing

  1. killifish
  2. Killiecrankie
  3. killick
  4. killer whale
  5. killer satellite
  6. killer cell
  7. killer bee
  8. killer
  9. Killeen
  10. killdeer
  1. killjoy
  2. Killy,Jean-Claude
  3. Kilmarnock
  4. Kilmer
  5. Kilmer,Joyce
  6. Kilmer,Val
  7. kiln
  8. kiln-dry
  9. kilo
  10. kilo-