euthanize

verb

eu·​tha·​nize ˈyü-thə-ˌnīz 

variants or less commonly euthanatize

yü-ˈtha-nə-ˌtīz 

euthanized also euthanatized; euthanizing also euthanatizing

transitive verb

: to subject to euthanasia

Examples of euthanize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

More than 150 million commercial birds have been forcibly euthanized in an attempt to mitigate the pathogen’s spread, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. —Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025

For example, a farm in New York recently made headlines after it was forced to euthanize 100,000 ducks after health officials confirmed the flock was infected with the bird flu. —Bruce Gil, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2025

While 100,000 of them are returned to their owners, and about 2.1 million are re-homed, at least 530,000 cats are euthanized every year across the country. —Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025

Infected and potentially infected farm animals, including chickens, are often euthanized. —Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek euthanatos

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for euthanize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Medical Definition

euthanize

transitive verb

eu·​tha·​nize

ˈyü-thə-ˌnīz

variants also euthanatize

yu̇-ˈthan-ə-ˌtīz

euthanized also euthanatized; euthanizing also euthanatizing

: to subject to euthanasia

the dog was euthanized at the owner's request