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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Willard was later found guilty of murder, while a jury determined Robinson was not guilty in Jackson’s death, according to local WRTV.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
26 Jan. 2025
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According to the provisions of the agreement, detainees who were serving life sentences for murder and other serious crimes must be sent abroad.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Anyone with information about the death of the bar patron Saturday night can contact the Sheriff’s Office’s homicide unit at 858-285-6330 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2025
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Wiggins faces a homicide charge, and his girlfriend faces charges of burglary and being an accessory after the fact, online jail records show.—
Michael McGough,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Yet, the memory of the massacre lingers, a testament to the unintended consequences of fear and misinformation.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Hamas and its partners took hostages and killed more than 1,200 Israelis — the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.—
Edward Wong,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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According to the report, the woman had been considering assisted suicide for two years, since being diagnosed with skull base osteomyelitis.—
Nina Turner,
Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2024
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 29 Jan. 2025.
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