as in murder
the act of ending the life of someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any further suffering
Some called her death a mercy killing.
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Recent Examples of mercy killing
More secrets emerge, Chappelle says there’s no time to explain, even mercy killing the dog.
—
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2025
DJ Anne Harris is largely focused on mercy killing her relationship with Siobhan for Siobhan’s own good.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2021
The doctor carried out the mercy killing with her family’s consent and support.
—Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019
The woman later gave mixed signals about her desire to die, but the doctor, in close consultation with the woman’s family, decided to go ahead with the mercy killing.
—Mike Corder, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2019
In the Bollinger case, a handicapped baby was refused a lifesaving operation in Chicago in 1915, touching off a national debate over mercy killing the mentally disabled.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
After both of those mercy kill eliminations, there's only one more woman cut at the actual rose ceremony this week: poor Bibi.
—Ashley Iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, 16 Jan. 2018
In fact, the roots of mercy killing in modern times are lodged in the unsavory and downright savage practices of the last century.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Spirit Airlines has since come out to deny any wrongdoing, saying that while Aldecosea was misinformed initially by the airline initially, a gate representative did not suggest mercy killing Pebbles.
—Sarah Weldon, Cosmopolitan, 8 Feb. 2018
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2025
DJ Anne Harris is largely focused on mercy killing her relationship with Siobhan for Siobhan’s own good.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2021
The doctor carried out the mercy killing with her family’s consent and support.
—Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019
The woman later gave mixed signals about her desire to die, but the doctor, in close consultation with the woman’s family, decided to go ahead with the mercy killing.
—Mike Corder, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2019
In the Bollinger case, a handicapped baby was refused a lifesaving operation in Chicago in 1915, touching off a national debate over mercy killing the mentally disabled.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
After both of those mercy kill eliminations, there's only one more woman cut at the actual rose ceremony this week: poor Bibi.
—Ashley Iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, 16 Jan. 2018
In fact, the roots of mercy killing in modern times are lodged in the unsavory and downright savage practices of the last century.
—Grazie Pozo Christie, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Spirit Airlines has since come out to deny any wrongdoing, saying that while Aldecosea was misinformed initially by the airline initially, a gate representative did not suggest mercy killing Pebbles.
—Sarah Weldon, Cosmopolitan, 8 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercy killing
Noun
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With some rare exceptions, a person must be convicted of first-degree murder in Idaho to be eligible for the death penalty.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2025
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After pleading guilty earlier this year to third-degree murder in the overdose death of a Savage man, Tino Andre Jones Jr., 34, of Woodbury, was sentenced to 135 months in prison Dec. 22.—
Alex Malm,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The dead man found hog-tied on the side of a highway earlier this week has been identified as a 57-year-old Queens resident as NYPD detectives launch a homicide investigation, police said Friday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2025
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The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide caused by complications of blunt force injuries to his head.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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One wonders: Would teaching the Tulsa massacre be allowed?—
Alec MacGillis,
ProPublica,
6 Feb. 2025
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The plan seeks to create a level 1 trauma hospital in the area and name it after Dr. A.C. Jackson, a Black surgeon killed during the massacre.—
Russell Contreras,
Axios,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Marijuana legalization, assisted suicide, voting procedures and school curriculum are additional examples of issues where states have set their own policies.—
Claire B. Wofford,
The Conversation,
27 Jan. 2025
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Canada under Trudeau expanded the culture of death to adults as well, legalizing medically assisted suicide in 2016 and then expanding the situations in which it is permitted in 2021.—
The Editors,
National Review,
7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near mercy killing
Cite this Entry
“Mercy killing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercy%20killing. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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