mercy killing

noun

Definition of mercy killingnext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mercy killing Too much damage has been done to the character in recent years, to the point that any death would be seen as a mercy killing now. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026 For the rest of us, sudden death felt like a mercy killing. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026 Kelson teaches Spike how to grow beyond his parents, giving Isla a mercy killing and allowing Spike to place her skull on the top of the structure. — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 While this was a funeral rite for some in the Roman period, the researchers think the man was decapitated as a mercy killing after the lion bite. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025 If the mercy killing wasn’t a big enough of a twist, the introduction of three outsiders who stumble upon the girls’ cannibalistic feast will do it. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025 More secrets emerge, Chappelle says there’s no time to explain, even mercy killing the dog. — Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2025 The doctor carried out the mercy killing with her family’s consent and support. — Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercy killing
  1. murder
  2. homicide
  3. massacre
  4. assisted suicide
Noun
  • The boy was booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder, Gaines said.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Three men in Mexico received 158-year prison sentences Friday for the murders of Australian surfers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Carter Redd Rhoad.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of murder
Noun
  • Roughly a dozen agents from Quantico, Virginia, and Philadelphia homicide detectives are processing the home and surrounding the property.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The police department said the tip was flagged as spam and was never forwarded to homicide investigators.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of homicide
Noun
  • Authorities said Willeford, who lived near the church, grabbed his own gun and shot and chased the gunman, helping to stop the massacre.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In the coming years, the massacre generation is on track to become part of the largest voting bloc in the country.
    — Jillian Turanovic, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of massacre
Noun
  • Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered the state not to enforce the law against a group of Catholics over their religious objections to assisted suicide.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2026
  • And in Canada, 1 in 20 deaths are due to medically assisted suicide.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of assisted suicide

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mercy killing
mercy killings
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Cite this Entry

“Mercy killing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercy%20killing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mercy killing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mercy killing

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